The Crash of the Skyraider #124071

Above the ear splitting roar of the 2,700 horsepower Wright air cooled radial engine, I could heard Ensign Ralph H. Daniels, Jr. screaming, "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHaaaaaaa!" as the eighteen thousand pound aircraft turned up on its wingtip and plunged into the Pacific Ocean.

We went to sea for carrier qualifications where new Navy pilots got experience in landing on an aircraft carrier.  My flight deck station was aft, on the right side, on the catwalk about 4 feet below the flight deck.  If I thought the plane was going to crash I would start taking pictures with a Fairchild 4x5 K-20 camera.

As I watched Ensign Daniels attempt to land his Skyraider I saw the plane appear in the proper position.  However, as the plane reached the point where the Landing Signal officer would have given the "cut" signal, he gave Ensign Daniels the "Wave Off" signal to go around again and make another attempt at landing and do it better.

When that plane is accelerated, torque tends to tip the airframe sideways.  Therefore, when the aircraft throttle is pushed forward for more power, it must be done slowly to prevent careening of the aircraft.  The very large radial motor of the Douglas AD Skyraider was exceptionally powerful.

When Daniels received the Wave Off, he immediately pushed the throttle of the AD forward.  Too quick and too far, resulting in a tremendous amount of torque being produced by the oversized motor.  I was shocked to see the plane immediately pivot ninety degrees.  Its left wingtip sweeping down toward the flight deck.  Luckily, the violent motion of the plane caused it to swoop over the side of the Yorktown vertically, with its wing pointing down.  The pilot had the canopy open.  Instead of crashing at over 100 mph onto the flight deck amid other planes and men, I heard Daniels' scream as he dove the big AD, at full throttle, roaring into the grey, deep, unforgiving, Pacific Ocean.

I took pictures as he went over the side and scrambled up onto the flight deck and ran to the other side to take photos of the wreckage and determine  the Ensign's fate.  The mangled aircraft was still partially afloat.  I could see Daniels try to get out.  Then I saw Daniels' head bobbing in the water.  His yellow life jacket, inflated, making a visible marker for the rescue helicopter.

The ever faithful HO3S helo swooped over to Daniels.  A rescue diver went into the water and attached the pilot to a cable from the helo and Daniels was lifted to safety.

I was awe struck by many things.  The power of the Skyraider, the nearness of total disaster for the flight deck personnel, the power dive into the sea,  the rapid rescue of the unfortunate pilot...AND I GOT PHOTOS OF IT ALL!