The Region - News from June 30, 1986

Two crew members escaped injury when they ejected from a Marine Corps A-6E fighter plane which crashed at sea about 1,400 miles off the Southern California coast, a military spokesman said. The fliers, based at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, were identified as Capt. Vincent P. Higgins, the pilot, and bombardier-navigator Capt. Richard J. Racine. A base spokesman said the aircraft was part of Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 121 attached to the aircraft carrier Ranger for maneuvers in the Pacific. The plane’s crew reported difficulty during its landing approach about six nautical miles off the ship’s stern and bailed out seconds later. They were rescued by a helicopter from the Ranger.