GENERAL DYNAMICS F-111E ESCAPE CAPSULE

The F-111 escape capsule displayed here is from F-111E (68-060) which crashed on 5 November 1975 in the Wainfleet ranges approximately 5 miles east southeast of Boston, Lincolnshire. The aircraft, from the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing at Upper Heyford, was crewed by Pilot Capt James Stieber and WSO Capt Robert Gregory. During low-level flight, a bird penetrated the right windshield causing catastrophic failure to the windshield and canopy glass. The crew ejected and survived with Capt Stieber receiving severe head injuries from the bird strike. The aircraft went into the sea with the crew being picked up by helicopters from the 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron from RAF Woodbridge.