I remember when this happened. They had just done an air show at Carswell A.F.B. ,(Ft. Worth, TX)a few weeks before this happened. These brave beautiful sweet pilots hung around after their performance, greeting the crowd and signing autographs. Peterson shook me and my little brother's hand and talked to us for about 5 minutes. As African Americans and military brats, we had seen lots of air shows on base. But this was special as we were SO excited and proud to see an African American Thunderbird pilot !!! ALL the pilots, and I mean ALL of the pilots were very very friendly, hugging and shaking Everybody's hand. We were devastated when we heard about the crash. We watched the news for days, waiting for the details about the crash. Wondering, what happened? What would cause all 4 planes to fly in succession to the ground? We'dvseen it done many times before - flying in circular loops or dives and pulling up a certain distance from the ground. It was a very sad time as we mourned for the pilots and their families. But then a few days later the media announced the names of the pilots. It really it close to home. It tore our hearts apart because we realized it was the crew we had met and watched perform weeks ago. We recognized their names because we had personally met them. I cried and cried and cried for weeks. It brings tears to my eyes as I watch this video. It has taken many years for me to go to an air show. My heartfelt condolences to their families and the memory of each of them still remains in my heart.
I was 17 when this occurred and still remember it. What I read stated that the Lead (Boss) lost situational awareness of how close he was to the ground. The other 3 pilots fixate on him so they didn’t realize what was occurring. Supposedly all the USAF film of the incident was destroyed. The General (Wilbur Creech) said he didn’t want the families to have to go thru the horror of seeing it displayed by the media for years to come. What an incredibly smart decision!
How easy it is to put the blame on a man who can't defend himself. Lead lost control of his aircraft as a tail stabilizer was faulty, sadly the other pilots stuck with him per their training and met their fate, this was NOT human error, at least not like that. May this Tbird crew rest in peace
@@sithlord2225 , if you are right, if what happened was independent of the leaders responsibilities, my statement is WRONG. If you are right and only if you are right, thanks for correcting my mistake.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT BOOM....40 Years later....I was there, deployed with the Very FIRST F16 squadron ..we worked out of the Hanger Directly Beside T-Birds...We KNEW That sound but couldn't/DIDN'T want to accept that could have happened....yes,small mechanically actuated metal tail stabilizer was shown to be THE cause of Not being able to pull up out of accelerating loop at bottom, other pilots are watching out canopy at leader Not instruments or ground. Terrible tragedy that still hurts today.....
I remember when this happened. They had just done an air show at Carswell A.F.B. ,(Ft. Worth, TX)a few weeks before this happened. These brave beautiful sweet pilots hung around after their performance, greeting the crowd and signing autographs. Peterson shook me and my little brother's hand and talked to us for about 5 minutes. As African Americans and military brats, we had seen lots of air shows on base. But this was special as we were SO excited and proud to see an African American Thunderbird pilot !!! ALL the pilots, and I mean ALL of the pilots were very very friendly, hugging and shaking Everybody's hand. We were devastated when we heard about the crash. We watched the news for days, waiting for the details about the crash. Wondering, what happened? What would cause all 4 planes to fly in succession to the ground? We'dvseen it done many times before - flying in circular loops or dives and pulling up a certain distance from the ground. It was a very sad time as we mourned for the pilots and their families. But then a few days later the media announced the names of the pilots. It really it close to home. It tore our hearts apart because we realized it was the crew we had met and watched perform weeks ago. We recognized their names because we had personally met them. I cried and cried and cried for weeks. It brings tears to my eyes as I watch this video. It has taken many years for me to go to an air show. My heartfelt condolences to their families and the memory of each of them still remains in my heart.
Pete was one of my IPs in the T-38 at Reese AFB. A great guy! Salute
Rip Capt. Peterson
And the other 3.
I was 17 when this occurred and still remember it.
What I read stated that the Lead (Boss) lost situational awareness of how close he was to the ground. The other 3 pilots fixate on him so they didn’t realize what was occurring.
Supposedly all the USAF film of the incident was destroyed. The General (Wilbur Creech) said he didn’t want the families to have to go thru the horror of seeing it displayed by the media for years to come.
What an incredibly smart decision!
Reading the report, the leader had a mechanical failure in his tail plane.
They could have kept it as classified
No, the public deserves to have access to this footage.
Destroying that part of the tape was criminal IMHO.
😭😭😭
Peter Peterson. Way to name a kid. Like John Johnson.
One incompetent captain killed 3 pilots who trusted him with their lives… and lost them.
How easy it is to put the blame on a man who can't defend himself. Lead lost control of his aircraft as a tail stabilizer was faulty, sadly the other pilots stuck with him per their training and met their fate, this was NOT human error, at least not like that.
May this Tbird crew rest in peace
@@sithlord2225 , if you are right, if what happened was independent of the leaders responsibilities, my statement is WRONG.
If you are right and only if you are right, thanks for correcting my mistake.
Bad stabilizer. He was a Major. Show repect!
I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT BOOM....40 Years later....I was there, deployed with the Very FIRST F16 squadron ..we worked out of the Hanger Directly Beside T-Birds...We KNEW That sound but couldn't/DIDN'T want to accept that could have happened....yes,small mechanically actuated metal tail stabilizer was shown to be THE cause of Not being able to pull up out of accelerating loop at bottom, other pilots are watching out canopy at leader Not instruments or ground. Terrible tragedy that still hurts today.....
@paul-assiddiq-001 Exactly that. Incompetence when competence mattered most.