Highlights of 20+ Years in the U.S. Navy
Part 2: Don't Go Near the Water
CDR Davis
T(As Told by Arthur Barber Lockheed Technical Representative) A tense drama related to the 1958 US Antarctica Expedition took place in an area quite remote from the Antarctic. The incident described in this story took place not far above the 500 miles of equatorial waters that lie between Honolulu and Canton Island. It relates to a US Navy R4D (DC-3/Dakota) aircraft of Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6), which was on its way to Wigram, Christchurch.
By Norm Davis, CDR USN
The twin-engine R4D took-off from Alameda, California, on September 28th 1958, enroute to the Antarctic via New Zealand. Ten men were aboard along with several thousand pounds of personal and expedition luggage and equipment. A stop was made at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, in Hawaii, and then the aircraft proceeded southward on the evening of the following day. The night take-off required 16 JATO bottles to get airborne.
A VX-6 R4D at RNZAF Station Wigram
Approximately six hours out from Barbers Point, the R4D lost an engine. With half its power gone, and with its heavy load on board, the aircraft was immediately in considerable trouble. The island of Canton was considered the best place to land. This island, a tiny mid-ocean speck 26 miles long, lay 540 miles ahead.
The crew had no choice but to lighten the aircraft's load. In preparing to do so, they had trouble getting the fuselage door open. Not being successful with the door, they tried an escape-hatch, which opened so easily that it was whipped away in the slipstream.
The aircraft captain had 1,000 lbs of fuel dumped, which, added with other materials, dumped, lightened the aircraft by 4 tons. About $80,000 worth of clothing, cameras, and other gear went into the Pacific that night. A Qantas Airways Super G Lockheed Constellation's Captain heard the Dakota's plight on the radio. He diverted his normal flight between Honolulu and Fiji to search through the darkness and rain-showers in an attempt to locate the stricken plane.
The captain of the Constellation spotted the Dakota beneath a low cloud layer, slowly losing altitude and staggering along at 90 kts. The "Connie" had to fly at minimum flying speed to escort the Dakota through the darkness towards Canton.
Many messages were relayed. Passengers in the Constellation heard all of the radio traffic over the intercom. One message from the Dakota said: "Expect to run out of gas ten minutes out of Canton." When it seemed as if the plane was going to reach Canton, it suddenly began to lose altitude again and it informed the Qantas captain that he thought he would have to ditch. But the plane continued and managed to maintain altitude — of about 100 feet.
The next message from the Dakota said, "Think we'll just make it."
The next message to Canton control was, "13 miles out with 20 gallons. I think I can see the runway."
The Constellation was by now also low on fuel. Luckily, the R4D had cleared the runway, allowing the Connie to land without undue delay.
During the ordeal, about 100 paperback books were thrown overboard. The following day, while examining the aircraft's condition, the R4D co-pilot, Norm Davis, stepped through the aircraft. Found wedged and still in the aircraft was one lone book — he called it a silent reminder. It was titled, "Don't Go Near the Water."
Footnote: — The R4D eventually made it to RNZAF Station Wigram, but not before it had to make an unscheduled landing at Nelson, with an oil-leak in one of its engines.
At Wigram, members of VX-6 who were stationed there arranged a motorcycle escort as the aircraft taxied in and then a red carpet welcome for the crew after their harrowing experience and two-month delay