DIVE BOMBER CRASHES

[Music] this is a case history taken at random from official navy files during dive bombing practice 5 september 1944 ensign name withheld was flying number two position he was one of the best pilots in the squadron 460 hours overall average 3.6 starting his run at 10 000 feet pushed over in a very steep dive perhaps 70 degrees flap split 30 degrees [Music] like any conscientious pilot he wanted this to be the best run he ever made and concentrated on the target in his reflector site he watched the target grow as it came nearer and nearer unfortunately he forgot all about his altimeter which was begging for attention as he passed 4000 feet 3 500 feet 3 000 but this pilot figured you get to know these things automatically sort of feel where you are by the seat of your pants the target's the thing to concentrate on this is it a little more left ruddy there she comes right under the old bazoo suddenly the pilot snapped out of it that sixth sense told him he was getting low a glance at the altimeter confirmed it one thousand feet when he pulled back on the stick it was too late [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] it's really not very funny this actually happened and two men lost their lives unbelievable in navy dive bombing practice alone the fatality rate has risen to one every other day it's a wonder to me they don't do something about it yeah that's what i've been harping about any so-called pilot with 460 hours out of know better than to rely on his home judgment in high-speed dive especially close to the ground get familiar with a chart in technical note number 72-44 or to know it by heart what it says is in pulling out of a shallow slow dive there's not much loss of altitude but the steeper the angle and the higher the speed the more altitude you lose during pull out the charge goes into it in more detail this accident didn't happen when the pilot crashed at his airspeed and angle of dive he was a dead pigeon when he failed to consult his altimeter as it passed 3000 feet that's where he should have started thinking about his pull-out in order to begin his recovery at the designated release altitude but what happened he got so hypnotized by his effort to stay on the target he didn't start pulling out until under 1000 feet the extra altitude he needed was in the ground now remember men if you carry a dive too low three other things can happen when you're forced to try a snap pull out structural failure blackout or high g stall and spin the records show we've got too many hot pilots who can do everything in the book where they're playing but they haven't got this through their skulls yet direct hits and a target are very satisfying but they don't mean a thing if you get your congratulations well six feet under [Music] you