Massive SAR operation launched. Body of the pilot recovered.
On Jun. 15, 2020, at approximately 09.40LT, an F-15C belonging to the 493rd Fighter Squadron of the 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath, UK, callsign “CHOSEN 4”, crashed into the North Sea.
The aircraft was part of 4-ship (c/s “CHOSEN 1-4”). Emergency comms were heard on 282.8 a known koint/combined on-the-scene voice and DF SAR frequency used throughout NATO.
A massive SAR (Search And Rescue) operation is underway: along with three KC-135 Stratotankers radio callsigns “QID256 – 257 – 258” refueling fighters that are circling the area, TASMAN71 (Dassault Falcon 20) and SAR helicopter (S92 G-MOGH as “RESCUE 912”) have also been dispatched to the rescue of the pilot flying the Eagle that crashed. A NATO E-3 AWACS (“NATO 06”) is also supporting the operation circling to the northeast of the crash site.
🇺🇸 USAF F15 down – Reports of an F15 crash in the North Sea, callsign CHOSEN4. Formation of 4 x @48FighterWing F15s out from RAF Lakenheath. No information on crew. Humberside RESCUE912 Coastguard helicopter scrambled.
Mil aircraft over the North Sea atm. pic.twitter.com/vjgBoSoG4T
— CivMilAir ✈ (@CivMilAir) June 15, 2020
This below is the picture at the time of writing:
The U.S. Air Force 493rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers”, the only F-15C squadron in Europe and the squadron that flew the Eagle crashed today, is also the 2019 Raytheon Trophy as top Air Superiority Squadron.
The Raytheon Trophy is awarded annually to the top air-superiority and air-defense squadron in the Air Force. Nominees are graded on air-defense and air-superiority mission performance, operational mission performance, organizational readiness inspection results, training exercise participation, unit and individual achievements and flight safety.
Here’s the position of lifeboats from Scarborough & Bridlington on scene:
Bridlington & Scarborough @RNLI Lifeboats on scene off the coast of Flamborough Head. pic.twitter.com/scr8rdqjG8
— CivMilAir ✈ (@CivMilAir) June 15, 2020
More from The Aviationist
Several assets are continuing to look for the pilot hours after the crash:
@Aviation_Intel @cencio4
Ships positions (some actual some 2 hours old)
Must be the exact area of where they found the debris.
Note I filtered some vessels type to de-clutter the image https://t.co/SLHbgykNGp
— Juanma Baiutti (@juanmab) June 15, 2020
Update Jun. 15, 2020, 17.20 GMT:
RAF Lakenheath has confirmed that the pilot was killed in the incident.
The name of the pilot will not be released until all next of kin notifications have been made.
— RAF Lakenheath (@48FighterWing) June 15, 2020
