Lake Erie Tragedy.Aug 27 1967

[chuteless 1]

It will be 43 years since the Lake Erie tragedy. Just think of all those 16 people whose lives ended on that jump, August 27th 1967.

They would be like me...getting old and grey....not many would still be jumping by now, but they were a historic tragedy on that day. I for one, won;t forget any of them.

Bill Cole D-41 Canada.

[BillyVance 34]

I was only one day old when that happened.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[NovaTTT 2]

BSBD Lots of lessons learned from that day.

"Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

[RALFFERS 0]

Quote

It will be 43 years since the Lake Erie tragedy. Just think of all those 16 people whose lives ended on that jump, August 27th 1967.

They would be like me...getting old and grey....not many would still be jumping by now, but they were a historic tragedy on that day. I for one, won;t forget any of them.

Bill Cole D-41 Canada.

Is the tragedy the reason why U.S. jumpers cannot punch clouds?

Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself -

"from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of

[mx757 4]

I belive it it.. I think no jumping thur clouds rule went in effect no long after that..

[iluvtofly 0]

This happened long before my time. Would someone mind educating a younin like me?

[wmw999 2,444]

Here is an account.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[chuteless 1]

I realize punching a cloud CAN dangerous, but it isnt always. We often did it at Parkman DZ in Ohio, where I jumped with many of those who dropwn in lake Erie Aug 27th 67.

We often would climb to altitude, and someone on ground would radio the pilot, who would then rev his engine up and down to indicate it was his aircraft that was directly overhead of the Dz. Everyone would jump, and land right on the target at the DZ.

I have jumped through many clouds, and wouldnt hesitate to do iot again, because faklling at that speed toward something stationary is a great thrill.

Bill Cole

[wrightskyguy 1]

The real reason we're not supposed to puch clouds is that you don't know what's in there with you.

John Wright

World's most beloved skydiver

[Rick 67]

Or what small aircraft is below them

You can't be drunk all day if you don't start early!

[BillyVance 34]

Quote

Or what small aircraft is below them

Bingo.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[SkydiveJack 1]

Quote

Or what small aircraft is below them

Or what lake is below them.

[chuteless 1]

I am fully aware of that, but its still a fabulous fun jump if you get away with it.

Once the pilot signalled that he was directly overhead, it was a go jump....and we got away with it, like many other things we shouldnt have done.

I must also confess, I saw two jumpers miss very closely the wing of a DC-3 , but they missed it, and everyone kept moving on. They could have spit on his wing as they went past it.

I just realized that today is the 41st anniversary of my 1st chuteless jump.........no obituary yet for me.

Bill Cole

[boomer12 0]

When I heard the news, I was traveling back to my mobile home at Turners Falls airport in Massachusetts, When I arrived, people were congregating to obtain and discuss the latest information about the tragedy. I found the above report very accurate but would like to share a recollection. There were 20 sky divers in the B-25. The last two exited the aircraft at a higher altitude, landed at the airport and asked: where are all of the other jumpers". The B-25 went on to join the DAMN YANKEE AIR FORCE at Turners Falls airport. I was suprised to see that the jumpers in the bomb bay sat on long wooden planks. The jumpers forward had to get over a tall, thick bulkhead, between the wings, miss the planks and exit the bomb bay. This is a summarization of a recollection, so do not jump my butt.

[chuteless 1]

I am not sure about sitting on planks, because Bob Karns, the pilot told me when the tower at Oberlin gave him the okay to drop the guys, he turned and waved to one of the jumpers ( Jimmy Simmons )who was standing beside the bomb bay doors on the airframe, and he just stepped to the side and was gone. the rest followed.

As for the two others, they were Larry Hartman and Al Olmstead, who had oxygen equipment suitable to go higher. They exited over Wakeman (Ortner Field) and while in freefall spotted a small hole in the cloud and pointed to it for Al, and they tracked over that direction.

They did ask "where are all the others" when they landed, and were told they had been dropped inthe lake.

Bob Karns was giving them a free jump in payment for jumping at an airshow, for which he got paid.Karns had chicken dinners for all the jumpers laid out in the hangar....in appreciation for their air show jump.

Karns later died in a crash at Detroit, and Larry Hartman later died by being drunk and falling out of a boat .....in lake Erie.

Some people think he was pushed...but no proof.

Larry and Bob were extremely great guys, some of the best.


Bill Cole D-41 Canada