Crusader
Story brought to us by Ian from Welcome to My World and Aussie Emu.
The Time a Fighter Pilot Ejected Into a Thunderstorm and Rode the Lightning
Marine Corps Lt. Col. William H. Rankin had flown combat flight operations in both World War II and the Korean War, but it wasn’t enemy fire that came closest to killing him during his military flying career. It was a summer thunderstorm over the east coast of the United States.
Lt.Col. William Rankin
On July 26, 1959 Rankin and his wingman, 1st Lt. Herbert Nolan, were flying a pair of F-8 Crusaders from South Weymouth, Mass back to their home base at Beaufort, S.C. when they encountered a line of severe thunderstorms over North Carolina. Shortly after the fighters climbed up to 47,000 feet to go over the growing cumulonimbus clouds, Rankin heard a loud grinding noise followed by a loss of power from…
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Thank you, this tales needed repeating!
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They’re so inspiring. His description enables you to feel you’re actually there with him!
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This was a good one! Left a comment on the original.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It certainly was, Pete.
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