Command ejection depended, for me, on who was in the back seat. If he'd
been around, I said select 'command' and if you see anything really
hairy and pull the handle I won't complain. I flew a few missions with
an ex-ADC RIO ( Len Trottier) who had more fighter time than I did. he
was very cool and crafty and skilled. When he racked up a hard landing
(back seat landing at Da Nang) the WingCo damn near had apoplexy. "What
the hell was he doing landing the airplane?" the only thing Len didn't
have was pilot's wings - he could do every thing. BTW for the Navy guy
- if you land a USAF F4 like you did USN ones you just might find the
bird sitting on its belly - the USAF gear isn't stressed for routine
carrier alndings, let along 'energetic' ones. Back in the 60's a navy
exchange pilot forgot and landed a 460 FIS 102 like he would a Navy
bird. result - splayed gear and bird on its belly. Limit touchdown
speed for a 102 at min fuel was about 540 FPM, well below GCA/ILS
normal approach descent rates. . Which reminds me - I saw a Navy F4J (I
think that's the model) get into Da Nang sucking fumes - the touchdown
was with brio and he must have bounced thirty feet in the air. Only
time I ever saw a fighter do that. F4s do look funny with the oleos
fully extended. Most impressive - I guess he 'spotted' the non-moving
deck. That was about the end of 1971, I think. Walt BJ