| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 163128 |
| Military Code: | EC-04 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet |
| Aircraft Version: | McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet |
| C/n (msn): | 536/A445 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Marines |
| Unit Markings: | VMFA-323 |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Santa Ana - El Toro MCAS (closed)Map |
| Region / Country: | California, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KNZJ IATA: - Local: NZJ Other: - |
| Photo Date: | 30 August 1989 |
| Photo by: | Stephan de Bruijn |
| Photo ID: | 598099 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
Hot pit refueling of a VMFA-323 "Death Rattlers" Hornet at homebase El Toro. This Block 21 (Lot 9), fiscal year 1985 Hornet was delivered to the US Navy on 10 Mar'87 and served VFA-12. It was later transferred to VFA-161 and then to the USMC VMFA-323 (as pictured), VMFA-531, again VMFA-323, then VMFA-314 and returned to the US Navy in 1996 with the NSAWC. It again was moved to the USMC with VMFA-142 and sadly crashed during an 1v1 air combat manoeuvring mission near Comanche (TX) after it entered an uncontrolled low-rate flat spin on 3 December 1999. The pilot ejected safely This photo is copyright © Stephan de Bruijn, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 30 August 2023, and has since been viewed 298 times. |