Bob Besal on the USS America in 1974 in the North Atlantic when he was a Lieutenant. Besal was piloting a Vought A-7C on a training mission when his aircraft collided with another plane at 15,000 feet, sending his jet into the Atlantic. He survived, but thought the plane lost.
A man and his plane —
Bob Besal on the USS America in 1974 in the North Atlantic when he was a Lieutenant. Besal was piloting a Vought A-7C on a training mission when his aircraft collided with another plane at 15,000 feet, sending his jet into the Atlantic. He survived, but thought the plane lost.
Bob Besal/CNN
Bob Besal took this photograph in October 1974 during a NATO exercise. It shows a Vought A-7C nearly identical to the one he was in when it was involved in a midair collision two months later.
A man and his plane —
Bob Besal took this photograph in October 1974 during a NATO exercise. It shows a Vought A-7C nearly identical to the one he was in when it was involved in a midair collision two months later.
Courtesy Bob Besal
The data plate from Bob Besal's plane found in August off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida by Joe Kistel that led to identifying the pilot and the plane which crashed in 1974.
A man and his plane —
The data plate from Bob Besal's plane found in August off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida by Joe Kistel that led to identifying the pilot and the plane which crashed in 1974.
Courtesy Larry Davis
Bob Besal in 2008 in front of his N3N-3 Navy trainer in Carson City, Nevada.
A man and his plane —
Bob Besal in 2008 in front of his N3N-3 Navy trainer in Carson City, Nevada.
Courtesy Richard Besal