The Flash Gun in the Bermuda Triangle

During 1952 we had our "shakedown" exercises around Vieques, the bombing and artillery practice area. I am a little hazy on the dates. The records show we were there in 52 but I seem to remember some events later than that.

One thing I do remember for certain was the action of Capt. Jack during this time. When we were at general quarters there were inspectors on board and they were making a lot of notes. Suddenly there was an announcement that he was going to lighten the bordem and some adult party song records started playing over the loudspeaker. You know the type. "I got my very first leigh in Hawaii" and "The Admirals Dingy". I don't remember if these were played but there were several similar songs that did and they did not play continuously, just now and then when it was quiet.

I seemed to have the run of the ship.

Stew and camera

As long as I had a camera no one questioned me and if the Skipper saw me he would look but not say anything to me. I figured he thought I was doing what I was expected to do and he did not care as long as we were available to do what he needed which was not much.

The inspectors looked flustered and embarrassed during the party songs. And I wondered what the Chaplain would say. There are circumstances when some people will call attention to themselves when they are bored. Capt. Jack seemed to have a problem. There was an incident when many of us were called to the hangar deck and the Captain made a speech.

Mule Talk

He said "when a mule kicks you once it is the mule's fault. If he kicks you a second time it is your own fault". We learned that some of his staff were upset with him and reported his activities. Apparently he got called on the carpet and was eventually relieved of his command and Captain Burden took over. Capt. McElroy was working toward Admiral but we heard rumors that he received a cooling off assignment at the Radar Dew line along the artic perimeter. Would you say the Tuck saw a mutiny?

While Captain Jack was still in charge we had some more excitement. We were setting up for some war games out

bomb run

in the Bermuda Triangle and I believe it was Convex III. While the ships were assembling
Service

(we stayed in San Juan to service sea planes) a commercial pilot reported seeing a submarine as he flew over it. He reported the sighting and everyone got real excited. It seems we did not have any subs in the area so our government wanted proof the sub was there spying on our exercises and identification so they could confront the Russians on the floor of the UN. Then we get notice to get ready for a mission using one of the P5N Marlins with the advanced super flash gun mounted in it. WHAT????

None of us had ever heard of this equipment. We knew nothing about it. We were given a manual and told to learn all we could in the next few hours. Eventually I was selected to go on the assignment. We would install our standard aerial camera in the proper position, lower the flash gun, a huge unit about 20" diameter into a hatch hole in the floor of the tail tunnel of the aircraft. We could not test the unit on the ground because the heat from this thing could start a fire in the oil on the surface of the water or on the wood flight deck. The trigger for the firing of the camera and flash was the bomb release button controlled by the pilot. The bomb bays had to be open and there were no bombs on board.

We waited while the ships searched and located what they thought was the sub. I reported to the aircraft loading boat early evening and climbed aboard. I was shocked to see a gang of officers and servicemen already in the plane and I estimated there were at least 14 people on board. We took several runs to take off. We could not break the friction of the smooth water and there is a step on the hull of the plane that breaks the pull of the friction and it is tricky to rock the plane slightly to help this step break the friction so we could pull off the water. The weight of the extra people did not help. However, we did get off and headed out for our target location. Then there was trouble with trimming the plane. Comments were that we had gone over a mountain range but had a higher one to go over and needed to gain more elevation. When we turned around we lost elevation and could not go over the mountains we had just cleared. The crew chief got sick but the rest of us lined up in the center of the plane and we would all move back a short distance and then move forward and the pilot guided us until our weight helped balance the trim and we could clear the mountains. I have no idea of where our target was or our route. I do know of at least one island in the Carribean with high mountains and it is small. But that is what I was told.

After flying for about 5 hours we neared our destination. There were many ships trying to locate the submarine. They dropped sonar buoys and located a signal. For awhile the trail split and they followed both.

The crew chief was not available and there were no safety lines in the area. I loosened the flash gun and carefully opened the floor tunnel hatch. So far OK, I was not being bounced by the wind and I hung on tight because that hole was plenty big. As I raised the hatch I brought the flash down into position and secured it. I was greatly relieved when everything was secure again and I did not feel concern about slipping out. I set things up for a run and the pilot ran a test with the camera and flash and all I had to do was watch for the test light on the side of the unit indicating it was operating. No such luck, I did not see a light. I could not find a part that looked like something in the manual but figured the light flashing would help me identify it. I reported my problem to the pilot and as I inspected the unit which generated and stored a power surge. I came to the realization that it was installed with the test light against the bulkhead and it was visible only from directly in front so I could not see if it was operating. We did not seem to have anything we could slide down alongside the unit to reflect the light to us.

Then the pilot suggested we climb above the clouds, fire the gun and see if we could see the light reflecting off a cloud. The only problem was he wanted me to now open the side hatch and watch out the open hole and see if I could see reflected light. I was not happy with this but we did do it and I hung on while I opened and secured the hatch. I hung on to the ridge along the hatch opening edge and looked out while the pilot fired the light over some clouds. I thought I saw some light and so did the co-pilot but I was not sure. The pilot was satisfied and went for the position to take the photos. I secured everything and tried to wipe out visions of my falling five miles into the ocean in the dark Bermuda Triangle. I was very angry at the people who did not notify us about this equipment so we could learn about it and test it.

As we prepared for our run on the target I spoke to the pilot and reminded him of the requirements for the run. If we were too high the flash could not illuminate the area and if our air speed was too high we would have gaps between the photographs. I think we had to be at 75 feet elevation or less and our air speed had to be at 150 knots or less. The pilot informed me he was making the run at something like 100 feet and at a higher speed like 200 knotts for safety in these conditions. I could not argue with him, he was the senior officer in command and I was probably a seaman or third class non com, however, I politely urged him to reconsider because our effort would be wasted if we exceeded the limitations of the equipment and how it could perform. About then this strong voice comes booming over the radio identifying himself as Red Dog1 so it must have been the Admiral in charge. He informed the pilot that the photographer had properly informed him of the requirements of the mission and that he must follow my instructions. He also informed him of one other quirk in our type of mission and that is that during a photographic run of that type, during the execution of the run, the photographer is in charge of the aircraft. (I had never been on that type plane or used that equipment or been checked out in it so of course, they put me in charge).

That being settled we started on our run. Now I had a bigger problem. I surmised that all the people on board wanted to be there when we photographed the sub or telescope of the spy sub and the information was presented at the UN. All the pilot's buddies could say they were on the mission. I did not know the weight limitations of the aircraft and if the many visitors were a problem, also I could not observe the stormy conditions on the ocean. I had to rely on the pilot doing what was safe and if the run was not possible I did not think he would kill himself but at least I knew I would not be responsible if we failed. To my great relief we made the run without incident. We flew back to Puerto Rico and I turned my film over to others who would speed it up to others for processing and analysis. In a few days I did hear there was not an image of a telescope or sub on the film and they decided we were chasing schools of jelly fish. The whole trip took about 14 hours and it was an exhausting trip for all and I still have nightmares about falling five miles into the ocean. Did you know we all have a terminal velocity? The Navy did teach me that, I guess to help in a situation like this. The body falls at 125 MPH. So if I fell 5 miles or 5 stories, my speed would not exceed 125 miles per hour so if I flattened out I reduce my speed but I could not judge my height above the water so I straightened up and went in feet first. At least it would be no worse than falling 5 stories and I could, in theory survive the fall. Small consolation,they would never find me.

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