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(Continued from ANGLES &
DANGLES, page 4)
merged in deep water, when these officers
were enjoying a cup of coffee in the wardroom, word suddenly came over the loud speaker
system: "Rig ship for outside loop!" Captain Huey had briefed the
stewards serving the guests in the wardroom. Three of them started running around
putting everything away that wasn't tied down, locking all drawers, and stuffing pillows
everywhere to contain any flying object. All the while they were muttering loud enough for
the aviators to hear words like, "Lawdy, I wish the 'ol man wouldn't pull this
maneuver again!!"... And "Hang on, gentlemen!!" or similar comments.
Shortly thereafter CHOPPER would slowly be placed in a very steep down angle, between 20
and 30 degrees, and at the very steepest angle the propellers would be placed in reverse
and the main ballast tanks blown.. .an emergency measure called back, blow, and pray. We
all had to learn as diving officers to pull out of any unexpected extreme down angles.
Needless to say, our aviator guests were impressed, and probably a little bit frightened
by these high jinks. |
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