My Dad was once threatened with court-martial for flying a P-51 down Main Street, below the tops of the surrounding buildings. A year later, he was in Korea. He died flying helicopters in Vietnam.
As a lieutenant, in the 80s, I once told the Wing Commander that if he didn’t want a lieutenant making decisions for him, he needed to come to work in time to make them himself. In the 80s, I got away with it. In today’s military, I probably would not.
The 50s & 60s had a very different standard for crashing planes. It was far more common back then.
And I can remember flying (a WSO) UNDER power lines on several occasions, so I cannot fault someone else for doing so. It happens.
^^ Should have been “as a WSO”...
Thanks for the story, what a roar that Mustang would have made! And what a sight to see. 'Oh that's a cute little 302 you got there, check out mine'.
Apropos of the standards. They also seem to vary wildly within the same time period too. So do standards for VIPs. I was just thinking of Sen. Gore's pampered son onshore with a camera and bodyguard while the Admiral ( who certainly must have received some reports about Sidney ) inexplicably lets his loose cannon risk everything. It's surreal.
Imagine being the aide for the Admiral that has to continually walk in an say: 'Uh sir, well you see yer boy was in Spain, and well, there's this blackout, and well ..."