A VF-154 F-14 crew ejected over Iraq in 2003, the NRO came to their rescue

On April Fools’ Day in 2003, a F-14A crew from VF-154 was forced to eject over Iraq after the jet’s engines ceased in mid-air due to fuel starvation.

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Calvert T. Frantom. / Public domain

Forced to eject, they radioed for help but they were not aware at that time that their survival radios were on the wrong frequency. Luckily, a U-2 was overhead and managed to pick up the signal and the pilot contacted his commander at Beale Air Force Base in California.

A recently declassified National Reconnaissance Office newsletter revealed that pilot Lt. Chad Vincelette and RIO Lt. Commander Scotty “Gordo” McDonald visited the NRO’s headquarters to give a talk on the event five months after it occured. A A-10 pilot who was at the scene to coordinate the rescue was at the talk as well.

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