"In the Fall of 1958, the 482nd FIS deployed from Seymour Johnson AFB (the runway was being lengthened and widened for B-52s) to Andrews AFB in Maryland, then to Langley AFB, Virginia, and finally to Oceana Naval Air Station, southeast of Norfolk, Virginia. The squadron maintained its alert commitment there with two F-102s on five minute alert. The aircrew and maintenance personnel had this duty for 24 hours shifts, beginning at 8:00 a.m. On Sunday November 16th, Capt. Ted Lemcke and I were scheduled for alert. We arrived several minutes early, preflighted our aircraft, and set up for alert. We had relieved the other two pilots and split up the Sunday morning paper. Just a few minutes past 8:00 o’clock the “Scramble” horn went off! We had to run about 80 yards to the aircraft, climb in, start the engine and get strapped in. The F-102s were in a line facing a line of Navy TV-2s (Navy T-33s) about 40 yards apart. After I got started and ready to go, I checked in with Ted on the designated radio channel (he was the leader) and he did not answer. At that time I looked over (we were side by side) and saw him slumped over slightly. I assumed he was adjusting his rudder pedals, then he straightened up. At this time his aircraft had started creeping forward. His nose gear turned toward the left and then straightened out. The crew chief sensed something was wrong at this point. He was out in front of the aircraft, which was still creeping forward, and could see that Ted was not turning and going to hit the TV-2s. He grabbed the F-102 radome and tried to turn the aircraft to keep it from hitting the TV-2. He did turn it some, but the right intake of the F-102 hit the right wing tank of the TV-2 and crushed it! This stopped the F-102, but it was siphoning fuel out of the TV-2 wing tank straight into the intake!
"During all of this I tried contacting Ted three or four times to no avail. I even tried “guard” channel, which transmitted on all channels. I knew something was wrong, but I had to continue the “scramble.” Shortly after takeoff I checked in with the Ground Control Intercept (GCI) site and the “unknown” had been identified as a Navy S2F mail plane, they delivered mail to the off shore ships. I had to fly around for awhile and burn out some fuel before landing.
"Ted’s crew chief, Sgt. Bill Pafford I think, realizing something had to be done, climbed up on the aircraft to shut the engine down, but couldn’t get the canopy open. He climbed down, went under the wing and pulled the emergency lanyard and blew the canopy off, climbed up again and shut the engine off! Somebody had called the fire station and ambulance and they arrived soon. It was a very traumatic experience for the crew chief I’m sure, but if he had not turned that aircraft with brute strength, it could have been a lot worse!
"I was one of the honorary pallbearers for Ted’s funeral and he was definitely buried in Arlington National Cemetery."
STONEY