53 years before flight 1549....

[JRoberts]

On October 17, 1956 Pan Am Flight 943 was flying from Honolulu to San Francisco. At the point of no return the plane experienced engine problems. The decision was made to ditch in mid ocean near the Cost Guard Cutter Pontchartrain. s. Very similar to Flight 1549 only 53 years earlier. Amazing.
Check out the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkR4F3_fEUQ

[DanStokes]

Re: 53 years before flight 1549....

As I've mentioned before on here, the US Coast Guard Cutter "Diligence" is stationed here in Wilmington. Let me tell you, we are mighty proud of the men and women who staff her. They do lots of drug and alien interdiction as well as rescue work like this. Bless 'em all - and they've been at it since the 1790's. When "Diligence" comes into port there is always a celebration and we make sure the crew knows how we feel. Mostly, they just want to get to their families (can't blame them for that) but they put up with us and the media.

Notice how the plane broke in half? I'm guessing that led to the better airframes such as we enjoy now. It's a real miracle that this got captured on film in 1956. My Dad was a camera nut and had a movie camera at that time but I recall that this was pretty unusual, at least among the folks we knew. I'd have been 9 when this happened but don't remember it - I wasn't much for the news at that age.

Dan

[tiresmoke!]

Re: 53 years before flight 1549....

Here, here....Proud of ALL of our armed services, but I feel the CG doesn't get their due....here's to them!

[DanStokes]

Re: 53 years before flight 1549....

Agreed! It's just that we have the Coast Guard here and not the other branches. About 30 miles north is Camp LeJeune so there's a TON of Marines up that way. NC has a lot of military and we are, of course, proud of them all.

Dan

Here, here....Proud of ALL of our armed services, but I feel the CG doesn't get their due....here's to them!

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: 53 years before flight 1549....

Wow, thanks for sharing that.... The CG is an amazing group of service men and women.

[morley]

Re: 53 years before flight 1549....

Wow, that was amazing. I know alot of coasties and they are great people, seems like those guys are always hauling someone out of the water around here. Lots of ice rescues this time of year.