Hi,
I thought just as a change of pace, and because I know that at least two of you are also long time Huey guys, I would pose the following question: How many of you have heard the story of the infamous "Donkey Bomber".
Now, I'm not going to poisen my question with too much information, but it involves a Huey, a Donkey, Central America, and 80s.
So; how many of you have heard of it????
Joe
The Donkey Bomber
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DryMartini
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hang the expense
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Donkey bomber
I was down there in the 80s but I never heard the story so I will bite.What is it.?
HANG THE EXPENSE
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pokryshkin
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Donkey Bomber
I think Dan Johnson is referring to the mascot the 100th Bomb Group brought back from Africa, after a high altitude return-to-base ferry trip of the entire B-17F or B-17G-equipped group.
The pilot of the aircraft, worried, and anxious to get back on the ground, advised the tower: "Emergency! I'm coming in with a frozen ass!"
(Of course he actually meant "Mohammed", who was indeed pretty cold after all those hours of high altitude flight!)
Fortunately, I believe "Mohammed" DID thaw out, but succumbed later to the unfamiliar English climate and weather, if memory serves.
- For anyone who doesn't know THAT story.
-Dan Katz
The pilot of the aircraft, worried, and anxious to get back on the ground, advised the tower: "Emergency! I'm coming in with a frozen ass!"
(Of course he actually meant "Mohammed", who was indeed pretty cold after all those hours of high altitude flight!)
Fortunately, I believe "Mohammed" DID thaw out, but succumbed later to the unfamiliar English climate and weather, if memory serves.
- For anyone who doesn't know THAT story.
-Dan Katz
The Film Air Force B-17B Serial Number Student
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jmkendal
Donkey Bomber
Ok, I really thought some of you might have heard about it.
Back in the bad old days of the Ollie North era we supported a group of counter revolutionaries called the Contras; in Nicarauga.
Now as some of you might know alot of that territory is pretty mountainous. And; the Contras needed away to move thier equipment.
So; Uncle Sugar initiated a program wherein we would donate Donkeys to the Contras.
The animals would be brought to Soto Cano where we would rig them in a specially made harness so that they could be airlifted under the Cargo Hook of a Huey. The Animals were sedated for this of course, both for thier sake and ours.
On one particular mission as the lead a/c came over a ridge line they started to take fire from a Nicaraugan Army Patrol that was on a ledge on one of the cliff faces. As the a/c took evasive action it soon became apparent that the Donkey either was not sedated enough or that the violent manouvers were overcoming the actions of the seditive.
At this point the Donkey started to panic and kick and buck and you can imagine what that did the the CG of the a/c. The PIC had no choice but to cut the hook and jettison the load.
Well of course, what is up has to come down SOMEWHERE. And; by pure happenstance the donkey landed on the ledge that the enemy patrol was on and killed and wounded a large number of enemy soldiers.
Upon reaching base the much chagrined crew were greeted with the news that the Contras were ecstatic over the kill ratio of this "new weapon" and wanted to know if they could do it again. The Detachment Commander told them he would have to check with the SPCA first............
Pity the poor Campensino that had to retrieve the very ripe, fifty thousand, dollar harness.
Joe
Back in the bad old days of the Ollie North era we supported a group of counter revolutionaries called the Contras; in Nicarauga.
Now as some of you might know alot of that territory is pretty mountainous. And; the Contras needed away to move thier equipment.
So; Uncle Sugar initiated a program wherein we would donate Donkeys to the Contras.
The animals would be brought to Soto Cano where we would rig them in a specially made harness so that they could be airlifted under the Cargo Hook of a Huey. The Animals were sedated for this of course, both for thier sake and ours.
On one particular mission as the lead a/c came over a ridge line they started to take fire from a Nicaraugan Army Patrol that was on a ledge on one of the cliff faces. As the a/c took evasive action it soon became apparent that the Donkey either was not sedated enough or that the violent manouvers were overcoming the actions of the seditive.
At this point the Donkey started to panic and kick and buck and you can imagine what that did the the CG of the a/c. The PIC had no choice but to cut the hook and jettison the load.
Well of course, what is up has to come down SOMEWHERE. And; by pure happenstance the donkey landed on the ledge that the enemy patrol was on and killed and wounded a large number of enemy soldiers.
Upon reaching base the much chagrined crew were greeted with the news that the Contras were ecstatic over the kill ratio of this "new weapon" and wanted to know if they could do it again. The Detachment Commander told them he would have to check with the SPCA first............
Pity the poor Campensino that had to retrieve the very ripe, fifty thousand, dollar harness.
Joe