THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE. I THINK TOM'S NAME WAS PROBABLY SPELLED
DICKSON AND I AM NOT SURE IF HE WAS AN AL1 OR AL2.
ONE OTHER INCIDENT THAT I CLEARLY REMEMBER HAPPENED ONE DAY INSIDE THE
HANGER. WE NORMALLY ALWAYS HAD ONE "HANGER QUEEN" IN FOR REPAIR OR
ROBBING HER OF SPARE PARTS FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT. DURING THIS SAME PERIOD
WE HAD BEEN GETTING A FEW SQUAWKS ABOUT THE PROPS OCCASIONALLY PICKING
UP SMALL ROCKS FROM THE RAMPS AND RUNWAYS AND PITTING THE PROPELLORS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THOSE DIRECTLY INVOLVED BUT THERE WAS AT
LEAST ONE AM2, AN AD1 AND A SELECT HANDFUL OF OTHERS. THE PLANE IN THE
HANGER WAS ON JACKS AND THE COWLINGS ON THE RECIPS WERE OPEN. SOMEONE
HAD PUT NUTS ON 4 BOLTS AND MADE SURE THE MANDATORY 3 THREADS WERE
SHOWING. THEY THEN SAWED THE BOLTS OFF IMMEDIATELY IN BACK OF THE
HEAD, AND AGAIN IMMEDIATELY IN BACK OF THE NUT.
THAT DONE THEY GLUED THE 4 BOLT HEADS ON A 3"X 3" PIECE OF ALUMINUM.
THEY THEN TOOK THE ENDS WITH THE NUTS AND GLUED THOSE TO ANOTHER 3"X 3"
PIECE OF SHEET ALUMINUM. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO GLUE THE TWO PIECES
TO THE EXTREME END AT THE TOP OF THE PROP. IT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE
SOMEONE HAD PATCHED THE PROPELLOR WITH TWO 3"X3" PIECES OF ALUMINUM BY
DRILLING 4 HOLES AND BOLTING THE PIECES IN PLACE.
SINCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON JACKS, THE TOP OF THE PROP MUST HAVE BEEN AT
LEAST 20' ABOVE THE GROUND. ALL MAINTENANCE STANDS HAD BEEN REMOVED
AND THERE SHE SAT.
THE MAINTENANCE OFFICER WAS EITHER A LT. OR LCD. AND HE NORMALLY
CARRIED A SWAGGER STICK. THE DAY ITSELF WAS PAYDAY SO THERE WERE A LOT
OF GUYS SITTING AROUND. THE MAINTENANCE OFFICER LOOKED UP AND SAW THE
PATCH, CONTINUED PAST THE PLANE. STOPPED, TURNED AROUND AND WALKED BACK
DIRECTLY UNDER THE PROP. HE LOOKED FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE 3 MINUTES BUT
WAS PROBABLY CLOSER TO ONE, TURNED AND SHOUTED FOR LTJG REX, WHO WAS
THE ASSISTANT MAINTENANCE OFFICER. LTJG REX APPEARED AT THE UPSTAIRS
RAIL LOOKING BEWILDERED. "REX, DID YOU AUTHORIZE A PATCH ON THAT
PROPELLOR?"
THE NEXT TEN MINUTES WERE PURE PANDEMONIUM! THEY FINALLY GOT A
MAINTENANCE STAND OVER TO THE A/C AND IT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE
ANYONE WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PATCH HAD ONLY BEEN GLUED ON.
AS I RECALL ONE OF THE GUYS LAUGHED SO HARD HE LITERALLY FELL OUT OF A
JEEP AND CRACKED A BONE IN HIS ARM.
