Monty
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2005
- Messages
- 10,746
- Reaction score
- 167
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Sand Springs, OK
- Detector(s) used
- ACE 250, Garrett
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Re: Most scared you've ever been?
When I was in the Air Force stationed on a bombing range I was controlling traffic. An F101 made a simulated nuclear drop where the plane would approach the target , make a vertical climb and release the bomb. Then he would pull off to a safe distance while the bomb continued up to about 1500 ft, then drop straight back down toward the target. The bomb was a "shape", the same size and weight as a nuclear bomb only it was filled with 2000 lbs of concrete. The plane made his release and the bomb went out of sight over the top of the tower. That in essence made the tower the target instead of the target pylon that was some 1500 yards out in front of the tower. The Weapons Controller, a 1st Lieutenant and I dropped our gear and ran out on the catwalk to see where that bomb was going to land. It looked like it was coming straight down at us but we couldn't tell for sure! We had enough time to discuss whether we should jump off the tower or stay put. It was 50 ft to the ground! We stayed put and the bomb hit about 20 yards from us and sprayed the tower with rocks, concrete an metal shrapnel from the impact crater that was about ten ft. deep and 30 feet across! The pilot was thrown off the range and disqualified for an unsafe release and we got covered with dirt and debris from the impact, but no serious injuries, just a few bruises and scratches. Of course we had to take a long bathroom break or at least long enough to stop shaking and for out hearts to stop pounding! As it turned out the pilot was unfamiliar with the range and had sighted on the tower instead of the pylon. Somewhere in my records I have a letter from the pilot , a captain, apologizing to me, an Airman 2nd class at the time, for nearly killing me, which was quite unusual. The Lt really got pissed because he didn't get one! Monty
When I was in the Air Force stationed on a bombing range I was controlling traffic. An F101 made a simulated nuclear drop where the plane would approach the target , make a vertical climb and release the bomb. Then he would pull off to a safe distance while the bomb continued up to about 1500 ft, then drop straight back down toward the target. The bomb was a "shape", the same size and weight as a nuclear bomb only it was filled with 2000 lbs of concrete. The plane made his release and the bomb went out of sight over the top of the tower. That in essence made the tower the target instead of the target pylon that was some 1500 yards out in front of the tower. The Weapons Controller, a 1st Lieutenant and I dropped our gear and ran out on the catwalk to see where that bomb was going to land. It looked like it was coming straight down at us but we couldn't tell for sure! We had enough time to discuss whether we should jump off the tower or stay put. It was 50 ft to the ground! We stayed put and the bomb hit about 20 yards from us and sprayed the tower with rocks, concrete an metal shrapnel from the impact crater that was about ten ft. deep and 30 feet across! The pilot was thrown off the range and disqualified for an unsafe release and we got covered with dirt and debris from the impact, but no serious injuries, just a few bruises and scratches. Of course we had to take a long bathroom break or at least long enough to stop shaking and for out hearts to stop pounding! As it turned out the pilot was unfamiliar with the range and had sighted on the tower instead of the pylon. Somewhere in my records I have a letter from the pilot , a captain, apologizing to me, an Airman 2nd class at the time, for nearly killing me, which was quite unusual. The Lt really got pissed because he didn't get one! Monty