I believe this incident happened in either 1969 or 1970. I was never able to find out any other information about it.

We were launching Our KC-135's early one morning before sunup on Anderson AFB, Guam. Our squadron was ferrying F-4 Phantoms back to the continental US for Depot Maintenance. The KC-135's were rotating takeoffs with the F-4's. Two F-4's would position and take off and then a KC-135 would follow in normal rotation.

When our turn came around in rotation, strangely, as it often happens just as we were about to taxi out to the active runway our plane got a Engine Warning light forcing us to drop out of rotation for launch. We were forced to pop the Cowling and go look for the problem.

The ramp was very active there back then and there was a Troop Transport across from us almost fully loaded getting ready to leave for Vietnam. What we heard and saw next is burned into my memory. One of the F-4's on the right side of the active runway apparently had a flame out or a electrical problem on its takeoff roll; the other F-4 went on normally.

The next KC-135 which should have been us had pulled out ahead of us and got in position to takeoff. From what we were able to determine the F-4 on the runway had a complete Electrical failure leaving it stranded and unable to communicate or have any running lights. The KC-135 began its takeoff roll and was at or approaching what is termed V-1 on its roll out. Apparently the Tower did not see that only one F-4 left because while we were adressing our problem this other Tanker came roaring down the runway. A fully loaded Tanker carries something like 230,000 pounds of Jet Fuel on Takeoff as well as operating in Full Water Injection for thrust augmentation in this tropical environment.

The KC-135 ran up behind the stranded F-4 collideing with it. On a KC-135 as you face it from the front the #4 Engine is outboard to your left. The #4 Engine was rammed into the back of the F-4. The #4 Engine was completely ripped off the Tanker setting both planes on fire. Somehow the pilot of the KC-135 was able to avoid a more devastating disaster by being able to recover from hitting the F-4.

For a short time we saw the lights on the tanker that should have been shining down the active runway meaning the plane was skidding after having hit the F-4. Unfortunately the two pilots were trapped in the cockpit and were burned alive as a result of this accident. If the Pilot & Crew of the tanker had not recovered, their plane was aimed to cross over the ramp and hit the Troop Carrier and our KC-135 fully loaded with Personnel and thousands of pounds of Jet Fuel.

I have never been able to find out any additional information on this terrible accident to this day, so if anyone remembers it please respond with any information. After 40+ years it may be too long!