European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 08, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes Friday september 8,1989 reports Point to Pilot error in 2 Jet crashes by Amy Geiszler Jones  Raf mildenha1.l, England Pilot error May have been the cause of two april crashes thai killed three airmen Accident reports issued this week b 3rd air Force Headquarters reveal. In a third Accident that month. Air Force investigators found thai a flashlight apparently left behind in the cockpit jammed the throttle of an a to Thunderbolt ii that skidded off a runway through a Fence and into a Farmer s Field slightly injuring the Pilot. The reports which arc separate from official Acci Dent investigation results discuss Only the Circum stances and facts surrounding the accidents and arc used for any Legal claims or disciplinary actions that May result. In the two fatal accidents investigators could find no mechanical problems that could have contributed to the crashes. On april 5. 1st it. Robert l. Bolandjr. 25, and capt. James a. Gleason 32, from the 494th tac fighter so at Raf Lakin Heath were killed when they ejected from their Al 11 fighter bomber during annual red Flag War game exercises at Nellis fab nov. According to the report Pilot Boland and weapons systems officer Gleason. Along with another Laken Heath Al ii had attacked a target and were trying to evade simulated surface to air missiles just before the 4 36 .  the plane crashed one supervisor on the ground observed More mane vering from the two aircraft than he had Ever seen before from Al us the report said. It said another observer on the ground saw the plane pass behind a Ridge. A matter of seconds later he saw the fireball As the plane impacted the  the report said the Crew members died instantly when their ejection capsule hit the ground before the Parachute could be deployed. The second fatal crash occurred when Dpi. Donaldr. Roberts a former b-52 navigator and Bombardier crashed his $6.3 million a-10a ground attack aircraft april 17 in a Field in Bonwick near Cambridge eng land. According to the six Page report Roberts who was assigned to the 510th tac fighter so at Raf bunt a tors was on a training sortie when the single scat anti tank aircraft crashed at 2 04 . At the time Roberts was flying in a two plane a to formation with maj. Carl Armstrong who was supervising close air support Maneu vers. Roberts had just completed a simulated attack and an operations Check when Armstrong saw a Sheet of fire spreading across the ground from the expected position of Roberts plane. He reported seeing no rocket scat firing or Parachute and departed the scene approximately 10 min utes later the report said. Roberts an eight year Veteran with More than 400 flying hours in the a-10, had flown seven previous upgrade sorties Between Jan. 31 and March 3. The report said no training deficiencies or discrepancies were noted in the new York native s qualifications. About three quarters of a mile of farm Fields in the Impact site were damaged and a broken water line caused some flooding according to the reporting the third Accident investigators found the Flash Light jammed in the throttle mechanism of an Raf Alconbury a-10 that crashed april 4, resulting in $826,000 in  twin engine a to was returning from an aborted surface attack and weapons delivery Mission after the Pilot capt. Drew Upshaw realized the right engine throttle would not Advance above the 85 per cent Mark the report said. He flew for an additional 10 minutes to lower the plane s Landing weight then touched Down at 10 40 . Upshaw a 12-year Veteran told investigators the aircraft veered to the right when the nose gear touche the runway. He managed to Point the aircraft Back Down the runway but was going too fast despite hav ing deployed the Speed brakes and having put the throttles in what he thought was the Idle  then used the plane s anti skid and Emer gency braking system to try to Stop the plane. Accord ing to the report the Pilot never heard instructions Over his radio to Cut off the throttles and pull the plane s fuel shut off handles when he was about 2,000 reel from the end of the 9,000-foot  a to skidded off the runway went through the base perimeter Fence and came Down nose first into the ground after bouncing in the air. Upshaw was slightly injured in the crash which ripped out the plane s 30mm Cannon and caused its Landing gear to  report said there was about $8,600 in damages to civilian property. News update sodomy Law Decatur. A. A Georgia s156-year-old Law that makes it a felony for a husband and wife to engage i sodomy cannot be applied to consent ing married couples a judge Rule wednesday. Government has no business witha married couple s private consensual sexual practices wrote Dekal county Superior court judge Robert  his five Page decision Castellani said James d. Mosc Lcy had been imprisoned illegally More than 18 months after being convicted of Violat ing that Law. Mosc Lcy 35, a Carpenter had been sentenced to two years. Hews ordered released on Bond by Castillani last week pc dinghies  had been charged in february 1988 after his common Law wife Bette Roberts filed complaints against him saying he had forced himself onh Craftjr they were separated. It s toy and time with a new twist 3rd army div Soldier apparently kills self Frankfurt West Germany a 41-year-old 3rd army div Soldier died tuesday of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound to the head a division spokesman said thursday. Chief warrant officer 2 Steven r. Wigham of co g. Task Force Viper died at  Cavern in Hanau maj. Van Jan Crytle said. Wigham is survived by his wife Jean Halbrook and a son Christopher of Falls Church a. No memorial service is planned. Additional details were not available. Military officials arc conducting an investigation. B Steve Taylor Munich Bureau Munich West Germany Christmas is still months away but cafes Europe Hopes to get an Early Start on toy sales saturday when Exchange to land departments open. A new twist for shoppers this year is the Exchange Home layaway program which will include purchases of toys to Talling $200 or More. Cafes Europe traditionally opens its to lands in september giving customers a Chance to beat the Christmas Rush said merchandising manager William Nils son. Most of the to lands located in the More than 70 major shopping centers and larger retail stores throughout Europe Are so called four seasons stores. As summer ends and the Sale of seasonal merchandise tapers off the Exchange service converts the floor space to toy sales he said. Fall is also the time when . Toy manufacturers begin their promotional campaigns on new toy lines for the up coming Christmas shopping season. This year in an Effort to meet con Sumer demand cafes Europe has in creased its initial Stock of toys to $2.6 million up from $2.3 million last year. Nilsson said the Exchange service plans to Stock about $18 million Worth of toys during the season about $1 million More than last year. Nilsson said summer movies and car Toons can greatly influence the fall line of toys As manufacturers attempt to spark the interest of children in new lines. This year he said customers can look for such themes As ghost busters ii and teenage mutant ninja turtles. He also thinks capt. Barbie will be a big seller this fall. The Well known doll has donned an army Blue mess uniform and will be an exclusive to cafes and civilian collector shops for one year. It will sell for $14.95. As part of its grand to land opening the Exchange service is offering Many items that Are not regularly carried including the popular i Joe Thunderclap and the three minute ice Cream maker while supplies last. For the Home layaway program which supplements Normal layaway custom ers can take immediate Possession of merchandise after a minimum Down payment of 10 percent of the Purchase Price. Cafes Europe included toys in the program in order to reduce storage problems experienced during the Christmas season. Other items eligible for Home layaway include furniture major appliances car pets microwaves and televisions with 19-Inch or larger screens. Stereo equip ment is not included and the $200 mini mum imposed on toys docs not apply to other merchandise. The purpose behind the new program is to allow  to set up a household Exchange spokesman capt. Was Davis said. Payments on Home layaway can be spread Over six months. Purchases Are limited based on pay Grade with a Range of $300 for Els to $1,500 for e-7s and above. The program carries a 3 percent sur charge on the balance remaining after the Down payment. The program May not be available until the end of september in some stores As the Exchange system upgrades its computer network to include All stores. The layaway program for toys ends dec. 25. International spy Swap reportedly planned Bonn West Germany a an East German lawyer is arranging an International spy Swap involving convicted agents from nine countries including the United states a West Ger Man newspaper said thursday. The conservative daily die Welt said East Berlin lawyer Wolfgang Vogel visited Israel last weekend to discuss the Deal which reportedly includes two soviet spies serving Long sentences. Die Welt said the nine countries involved in negotiations arc the soviet Union United states East Germany Britain South Africa Israel Norway Iraq and West Germany. It did not say what the United states expected to gain. West German government sources declined to comment on the report. Die Welt said Vogl also refused to comment on the reported Ca when asked by the newspaper for details. Vogl 63, has arranged other spy swaps in the past including the 1986 Exchange that allowed soviet dissident Anatoly Shch Aransky to emigrate to is Rael. The newspaper which appeared to be Basing its report on unidentified intelligence sources said the latest Exchange was planned for this autumn. Die Welt said that among the spies whose Exchange was being negotiated was Shabtai Zalmanovich who was convicted in Israel of spying for the soviet Kab and is serving a nine year sentence. Corrections an editing error in a Story on Page 7 in yesterday s edition put the . Mili tary Academy in Maryland instead of new York. � � the headline on a Story in saturday s paper incorrectly said . Soldiers in Wil Ryburg West Germany helped 22 people to safety during a fire. The Rescue took place in a Schallenburg West Ger Many. Accident at Grafe Wohr kills 1, hurts 1 Bamberg West Germany is one Vii corps Soldier was killed and another injured in a military vehicle Accident wednesday at the army s training area in Grafe Wohr West Germany. Services were held in Grafin Wuhr on thursday for pfc. John t. Kondrach 21, of he Btry 4th in 14th Reid arty Bamberg spokeswoman Irma Sharp said. Kondrach a native of Denver was single. Pfc. Derick j. Rydzinski assigned to the same unit was admitted to the or Langen University Hospital North of Arnberg. Army officials said the 18 year old Soldier was listed As very seriously ill thursday afternoon. The Accident occurred when a 2,000 gallon off Road fuel Tanker assigned to the 3rd inf div struck the two soldiers multipurpose vehicle on a tank Trail corps spokeswoman Hilde Goodhand said. One of two soldiers Riding in the Tanker was treated for Shock and hospitalized Goodhand said. The army is investigating the Acci Dent