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Hurricane Watch – 2010 Inactive
Flashback 1945:
Hurricane Hunters Base Prepares for Hurricane
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Hurricane IX Takes Aim at Bahamas and South Florida
The ninth event of the season appeared on September 12th in the South Atlantic east of the Leeward Islands and was designated Tropical Storm Number IX.
By the time the weather station at Martinique reported its presence late that same day the storm had already achieved full-blown hurricane status with sustained winds of 75 miles per hour and was moving in the direction of Dominica and Guadeloupe.
Our flight position was west of St. Croix when we got word of the storm. But Jackson and I were too busy checking out an overheating engine and trying to determine whether it was the engine or the instrument to pay much attention to the storm news. After a couple of tests we concluded that our number three engine was definitely running hot. And by the time I got back to the cockpit to report that fact the skipper and co-pilot had already observed the problem by way of the instrument panel.
Lt. Engle said, “Shep, why don’t you and the mechanics get busy on the overheating problem while I stay focused on the storm.”
Shep gave the skipper a high sign and the three of us commenced our trouble-shooting checklist. We went through all the procedures listed and then began the old tried and true method of enriching the fuel mixture.
The rich fuel mixture seemed to stabilize the temperature, but it was still running too hot for normal operations.
Shepherd finally said, “We could land at San Juan and take a look at the engine and see if there is anything we can do.”
Engle nodded. “Yeah, we could do that. On the other hand if we land, and shut down the engine to check it out, and for some reason we can’t restart it, we could wind up in the path of the hurricane.”
Shepherd nodded agreement. “Then, Skipper, if it’s all right with you I think it best to shut down number three before it does it for us.”
Engle nodded agreement and the co-pilot shut down the number three engine and feathered the prop. Then both pilots worked to trim the plane out for three-engine operation. Once that task was accomplished the skipper called over his shoulder to the navigator. “Bassett, figure us a direct route back to Miami. And Primrose, send a message to Masters Field Operations and tell them we’re having engine trouble and we are returning to base.” Then we settled in for a long and slow flight back home, listened to the reports as best we could and everyone on the plane was ticked off that we hadn’t had a chance to take a look at the Category 2 hurricane that was presently beating its way toward St. Croix and the Virgin Islands.
Our return flight to Miami was about as routine as any I’ve ever experienced and the landing would fit into that same category. Once we parked the plane we entered information on our three-engine operation into the logbook the skipper, Jackson and I made a routine inspection of the aircraft and turned our paperwork into maintenance. We were debriefed at the operations office then I ambled to the barracks and hit the sack.
The next morning I must have answered a dozen questions about our three-engine operation the day before, and that was just on my way to the chow hall. Eventually I got there picked up a tray and went through the line selecting my regular breakfast scrambled eggs, sausage, toast and coffee. I spotted Bill Hurley sitting at a table with three other guys. And as soon as I set my tray down Bill said, “I was by the hangar, Tom and your number three engine has already been pulled. One of the fellows, I think his name is Bertuccio, that was working on it said the problem was likely a bent pushrod.”
I shook my head. “I guess that means we’re out of action for the next day or two.”
“Looks that way,” Bill said.
I looked around the table and asked, “Have any of you guys seen the latest bulletin on the current storm?”
A redhead at the end of the table said, “Yeah. I stopped by operations and was told the storm has been upgraded to a Category 3 with winds at a 130 miles per hour and it’s located north of the Dominican Republic and is presently tracking west.”
Bill Hurley frowned. “If it stays on that course we’re in the cross hairs.”
“That’s their thinking over at operations,” the redhead said, “and they’re already making plans to move our planes out of here.”
I shook my head. “Well, so long fellows. Looks like I’m not going anywhere.” I had heard about enough and gulped down the rest of my coffee. “See you guys later,” as I turned in my tray and then hurried along the path leading to the hangar. I suppose I was hoping Bill was wrong and by some miracle the crew would fit the new engine on and off we’d go north with the others.
Of course that had to be wishful thinking. When I got to the hangar and walked inside I could see that the number three engine had been removed and was now mounted on a stand in front of the plane. I turned around and as I made my way to the operations office I noticed that there were only three Privateers on the line, which probably meant that two were on missions tracking the storm. The activity around the other three indicated to me that they were doing pre flight inspections in order to get out of Dodge.
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Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
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