*"'All Saved!' The Story of a Rescue at Sea" appeared in the Summer 1997, "Clipper" Newsletter, published by the Pan Am Historical Foundation, based on the report by Coast Guard Commander William K. Earle.
These pages are posted full-size...
Click headline above to watch a ten-minute video at the end of the story.
Amazing..!
ReplyDeleteHuntleyBiGuy :
ReplyDeleteFascinating story.
Scott from Massachusetts said,
ReplyDeleteWhat a remarkable feel-good story!! I don't ever remember hearing about this Rick, so thanks for posting. Man, what a comforting feeling when he said, "Ill see you in the morning, how do you like your eggs?"
Scott - I'm glad you enjoyed the post.
DeleteBoeing 337 Strats had problems with their complex 28 cylinder Pratt Whitney Major Wasp radial engines and the propellers. Their cylinders were built in a spiral formation that caused the rear cylinders to overheat due to not getting enough cooling air and in turn caused cylinders seizing up, engine fires and engine shutdowns. Other problems were some aircraft equipped with hollow bladed propellers that would delaminate and disintegrate in flight. The blades were hollow to save weight. And propeller overspeeding from problems with their pitch control mechanisms, that was the culprit in this case. Boeing had had been directed to rectify this problem in previous incidents prior to this crash, apparently they never followed through to correct the problem, sound familiar ?
ReplyDelete-Rj
Rj - Sounds very familiar. I enjoy watching "Air Disasters" on Smithsonian channel and it's often the case of the manufacturer being warned but not heeded.
DeleteThere was a show in the mid 1960’s called “Survival !” narrated by James Whitmore that re-enacted disasters and the story of this crash, it’s sometimes on YouTube or Vimeo.
DeleteWhat people don’t realize is the government institutions like the FAA and DoT have no way to enforce their directives or recommendations. The airlines and the manufacturers are always lobbying to be treated lightly with their willful malfeance that is at times criminal.
-Rj