B-25 pilot goes crazy in 1944

[groundpounder]

Here's a link to an article about a pilot that snapped after he couldn't go overseas. Too bad the poor fellow had to end it all like this.

http://www.southdeltaleader.com/news/19 ... &bc09=true

[The Inspector]

Sort of like the guy who stole a B-25 in Honolulu during a movie shoot (In Harms Way?) and buzzed Waikiki in the 60's.

[gary1954]

Sort of like the guy who stole a B-25 in Honolulu during a movie shoot (In Harms Way?) and buzzed Waikiki in the 60's.

Inspector. wasn't that guy a former B-25 Flight Engineer and was a Bar owner/tender at that time

[APG85]

There are other stories out there. In 1969, Sgt. Paul Meyers, stole a C-130E from RAF Mildenhall in the middle of the night. He crashed off the coast of France...or was he shot down? Still on controversy in the Herc world...

[JFS61]

From an earlier thread:

viewtopic.php?p=194345

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[Wildchild]

There are other stories out there. In 1969, Sgt. Paul Meyers, stole a C-130E from RAF Mildenhall in the middle of the night. He crashed off the coast of France...or was he shot down? Still on controversy in the Herc world...

And now the bomber pad that he left from his haunted.

What are the chances of that

[The Inspector]

Sort of like the guy who stole a B-25 in Honolulu during a movie shoot (In Harms Way?) and buzzed Waikiki in the 60's.

Inspector. wasn't that guy a former B-25 Flight Engineer and was a Bar owner/tender at that time

I think you may be right, I just recall it from my younger days being on TV NEWS and in the local birdcage liner.

[ALOHADAVE]

A very similar event happened at AAF Dateland AZ 3 Jan 1944.

S/Sgt Bridges was a mechanic attached to the 336th Two-Engine Flying Training Squadron at AAF Dateland Arizona. He had been working on an aircraft on the flight line at AAF Dateland Arizona and decided to take the aircraft for a solo flight. At no time had S/Sgt Bridges been given permission to fly the B-25 aircraft nor had he had any instruction in flying this aircraft, although he had ridden approximately 175 hours as an aerial engineer in B-25s. S/Sgt Bridges made a successful take-off, and crashed either on the first turn after take-off or in the traffic pattern when attempting a landing. Although his service record shows only that S/Sgt Bridges was stationed for a short time at King City, California, it is believed that S/Sgt Bridges had been there as an aviation cadet and he had washed out or failed the pilot training program.

Wreckage still remains in the Arizona Desert from the B-25. Not much because the plane burned.
DaveT

[p51]

I've heard stories over the years of AAF ground crew guys waiting to royate back home after VE say hopping into German planes and taking them around the pattern once or twice and either landing or augering in...

[VaBeachEd]

When I was an A-4 plane captain in the Navy, a ridiculous number of years ago, I heard a story about a Marine Lance Corporal who was a private pilot, and had applied for and been rejected for pilot training in the Corps. Apparently he decided to show the the Marines that he "the right stuff" or whatever passes for that, and manged to steal an A-4 and take it for a joyride. The story goes that he took off, went around the pattern a couple of times, and landed successfully, (I'm not sure I believe that!) and that the Corps was HIGHLY displeased. (I do believe that!) I guess it takes all kinds....

[PinecastleAAF]

Seems to have happened a few times over the years. This one had a happy ending at least.

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-avi ... ow-It.html