As a B-29 pilot, you are in command of the aircraft. But your success or failure depends on the efforts of a large crew. Their performance as a team is critical. One person's error can lead to the death of everyone.
One time on a training flight out of San Antonio, TX, I had a dangerous situation develop that I remember clearly to this day.
We were preparing for take-off. My copilot, Lt. Jackson, called the tower for taxi instructions. I was about to advance the throttles to move into take-off position when Jackson noticed that we were losing oil pressure on No. 3 engine. Jackson then feathered No. 3. Lt. Trammell, an observer, sitting in the jump seat between Jackson and myself, reached over and feathered #4 - the wrong engine. That put the plane in the possible situation of having only two engines...
Taking off with two starboard engines out is not recommended.....it's suicide.
Jackson - quick as a flash - reached over and pulled the feathering button on #4 before it actually had a chance to feather. He immediately saved the lives of all of us and the airplane as well.
That allowed me to abort the take off. I taxied back to the flight line and turned the plane over to the crew chief.
The flight chiefs are the really the unsung heroes of the Air Force. You put a small note about a little unknown noise in your plane in your report when you land from a mission - the chiefs and their crews would stay up all night to go over the plane with a fine tooth comb to find any possible complication. All without ever really getting that much thanks from the aircrews -- no medals. But they want their reports.So I was supposed to write up a report about this potentially lethal incident - and it would all be officially recorded for all to see and review. Which would mean the simple and probably one time mistake that Lt. Trammel made could really have terminated the rest of his flight career.
So I did write up that there had been a problem with #3 - but left out what happened with Trammel and Jackson. Which meant Trammel could learn from his mistake.
But Jackson was not recognized for his quick thinking and knowledge. By leaving this whole affair off the record - neither person would benefit or suffer officially. Protecting Trammel meant slighting Jackson.
Was I wrong in omitting all reference to Jackson and Trammel?
2 comments:
No, because the guy who corrected the mistake didn't do it for recognition or medals or the accolades. He did it because it was the right thing to do. He always had that knowledge that he did the right thing, and the less experienced guy knew too.
I'm an optimist because I think there are a lot of people who just do the right thing, without looking for the medal. They serve all of us every day.
And looking at the panel - I can have a bit more sympathy for Trammell too - even though he was just supposed to be observing.
http://www.atcu04.dsl.pipex.com/images/cockpit-instrumentsB-29_web.jpg
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