Me and McQ59 witnessed this tragic loss up close. It all happened at the second pass of the Balbo.
BBD were in the lead of triangel with another Mustang to its right and a Skyraider to its left. fter making a low pass over the airfield, they started climbing, banking left when it appeard to be a collision between the two. Debrie fell to the ground and the Skyraider had a sudden dtop of altitude but regained control. The Mustang wobbled further upwards when suddenly the pilot bailed and the parachute unfolded at very low level. The Kyraider regurned to land with a damged wing (McQ got pics) while the other Mustang circled around crash/impactsite. A tragic loss of aviation history. But luckily no loss of life and the Skyraider made it safe back.
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