F-8 Crusader Pilot Dave Lorenzo's Harrowing Vietnam Combat Experience

Ejection Over Enemy Territory

• 🎯 Dave Lorenzo, a former US Marine Corps fighter pilot, recounts his harrowing experience flying an F-8 Crusader in Vietnam on January 9th, 1968.
• ⚠️ His aircraft was hit by enemy fire shortly after dropping ordnance, prompting an engine fire warning.
• ✈️ Adhering to the naval aviation adage of not ejecting over bombed areas, Lorenzo elected to head west towards Thailand, rather than east back over South Vietnam.

The F-8 Crusader's Resilience

• ⚡ The F-8 Crusader, known as "The Last Gunfighter," demonstrated remarkable resilience as its J57 engine continued to run for several minutes with minimal oil pressure.
• 💥 Lorenzo endured two significant impacts to his aircraft before the engine began to unwind, signaling it was time to eject.

Ejection and Survival

• 🚀 At 12,000 feet, Lorenzo ejected using a Martin Baker F5 seat, a powder-actuated system.
• 🪂 The ejection sequence proceeded normally, with the canopy jettisoned and his parachute deploying successfully.
• 🤕 During landing, Lorenzo sustained a split lip from his knee hitting his chin but was otherwise unharmed.

Evasion and Rescue

• 🌳 Upon landing, Lorenzo immediately sought cover in scrub brushes, prioritizing evasion over engaging potential threats with his sidearm.
• 🚁 He had been in contact with ground support, and a helicopter arrived for his pickup approximately 20-30 minutes after he landed.
• ✅ Lorenzo emphasizes his luck in being able to communicate and be rescued quickly, contrasting it with other survival scenarios.