2 Air National Guard pilots eject after midair collision

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SUSANNE M. SCHAFER

MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. (AP) — Two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots ejected safely after an apparent midair collision in eastern Georgia, the Guard said.

The collision happened about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday during night training operations over a remote military operating area in Jefferson County, Georgia, a National Guard spokeswoman said.

The jets were assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, which operates out of McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina.

The base commander, Col. Nicholas Gentile, said the two pilots are among the most experienced in the unit.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7fcc67cdfc244b4c8c28e7d515de84f1/2-air-national-guard-pilots-eject-after-midair-collision

[titaniumsalute]

1. Glad they both made it...mid air collisions don't usually end that way

[CRK7376]

2. Hate that for SC Air National Guard

I lived about 5 miles from McEntire when I was stationed at nearby Fort Jackson. Aircraft/helicopters always in and out of McEntire, they helped our Boy Scout Troop with Aviation Merit badge. Glad pilots are ok. Good luck with their upcoming deployment.

[PersonNumber503602]

3. Seems to be a lot of military related accidents during the last couple weeks.

This, Thunderbirds, Blue Angels, and those soldiers at Fort Hood.

Obviously sheet happens, but it seems like one after another.