Flying High

The year 1953. It was a sunny afternoon when I heard the drone of an airplane and when it came in sight I recognized it. It was the yellow McCulloch airplane that dropped by occasionally and helped in the sales and service of their McCulloch chain saws. The plane circled and landed, motoring in to the wharf we used, and tied up. I went down to greet the pilot, and he introduced me to a man new in the business. Up to that time we had no highway, just a woods road from Plum Point accross the peninsula to Hare Bay area. He wanted me to come along with them for a day or so, as they had little or no knowledge of the area. I agreed.

My wife set to preparing supper and we men refueled the plane and finished other chores til suppertime.

It was about 7 PM when we took off from Brig Bay harbor. We flew across Ten Mile Lake, Round Lake and the salmon fishing area that flows out into the waters of Main Brook. Our flight plan was that after flying out over Main Brook we would head for the Lighthouse area of St. Anthony, and land in the harbor.

When we left Brig Bay it was sunny with a light wind, and the sun shone beind us, it was excellent; we enjoying it. But after passing over Main Brook we encountered head-winds and light showers, but worse; approaching from the east lay a hugh fog bank that appeared to be rapidly coming our way; or it appeared that way.

About the time that we could see the headlands of St.Anthony we were infolded in the midst of the fog bank, and the light was suddenly dim. The pilot had expected a clear, ordinary landing; but what can he do in this situation now? He talked with the other man, then turned toward me. He asked if I could add anything that might help him in landing on the harbor. I told him that I had travelled to St.Anthony on a coastal steamer two years before, and had observed the Lighthouse and harbor intrance, and the harbor waters. He asked if I thought he should turn around and fly back on the same course, so that we might find a suitable place to land.

I told him I would leave the decision to him, but that I would add my observations. That we could see the headland ahead before we entered the fog bank; it wasn't very far away, and our course hasn't changed. When or if we pass by the Lighthouse we have a clearance of about one half mile, and as we pass we'll see, perhaps, a faint light or perhaps,a brighter light depending on the clearance. After we have passed the light, then you should turn to about north-west to line her up with the harbor waters, and then begin to bring her down somewhat. Then we are to watch for the red blinker and after you pass that you may bring her down on the water. The pilot turned away toward his panal without any comment.

The lighthouse and the light keepers lights flicked past, the plane was banking on a new course and began to settle down somewhat. I relaxed in my seat and prayed, without anxiety. The harbor was misty, outlined, the lighted marker flashed past, street lights shone dimly and the plane began to gently touch the water, then settling down on the surface of the harbor; a perfect landing.

We motored slowly until we found a mooring buoy and the pilot got out and tied up to it. The pilot looked inside and told us that a boat was coming to our aid and the man who is rowing out thinks its his plane that has landed; he's reproving his pilot for flying in this treacherous weather. But he's so relieved that his boy is down safely, he hardly knows what he's saying. Our pilot caught the line the man threw and introduced himself, that his base was on the west coast and that this was his first time in the town. The man said that a warning was out that the town was shut down for flights coming in or out, all day, because of dense fog. He asked if we had a place to stay; if not he would take us to his house. He told the pilot that he wanted to know how he could takk his plane down successfully under these conditions.

I had planend to stay at the Hotel, and the man took me there in his car. The next morning was clear, I visited with my brother, Clyde, and we were glad to see each other. I had dinner with the pleasent couple at the Hotel, and our friend came in his car to take us to the landing. We called at Main Brook and Roddickton and while there I was able to take on board my little siste at the Roddickton clinic. She had been hurt in a slight accident the day before, and was now ready for home. We took off and arrived home without incident.

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