Greetings,
I am a new member and the news I have to contribute is antique. However, I was moved to join this Forum having come upon this thread and because of a long-standing interest in an item on a particular involving a rumored crash of a 130 on Guam supposedly having a stewardess at the controls during the late 60's.
I recently came across this thread and was moved to join the Forum for this purpose.
During this period of antiquity I was a BUF Nav flying from Utapao, Kadena and Guam. We rotated from our US bases through Guam for the 189 day TDY's we pulled for those of us flying the old model B-52 having the special bomb-bay modification for high density loads of iron bombs.
One thing I heard during a short stint on Guam in either 67, 68 or 69 was about a C-130 crash (I thought it was one of the Rescue birds on the Island) doing touch-n-go and local area pilot proficiency stuff and all were fatalities but load master who had strapped himself onto the aft ramp in anticipation of something going terribly wrong once a civilian female aboard got into the right seat at the invitation of the pilot.
The story I heard was that a stewardess was invited to fly the plane and that she was aboard for that purpose having been met by the Pilot in some daring do in Agana during the evening before. I never could verify it though later did become a C-130 Nav (Reserve) during grad school after leaving Regular AF. (I had 3 years in the A and B model 130's in 70-73 out of Ellington).
I recently happened upon the thread with the mention of the crash, though different particulars, so decided to join this Forum to give my 2 cents worth.
The BUF crash at Da Nang was an attempted night landing following air abort caused by total electrical failure and then long landing and over-run into mine field. As noted, Gunner was only survivor.
The BUF crash off the end of the runway in Guam in July 69 involved good friends from my Squadron. The right wing came off shortly before unstick. The crash ultimately led to a full investigation of the "D" model aircraft and quite a number were declared not airworthy and were abandoned to serve as parts supply because of serious cracks in wing and fuselage.
Regards to all,
Dave S.
Figmo