On this date in aviation history: January 29th 1964; USAF Major T. J. “King” Kong commander and pilot of a Strategic Air Command B-52 bomber was reported missing after being issued an alert status “Wing Attack Plan R” restricting all communications. However, Major Kong’s Statofortress onboard CRM 114 discriminator malfunctioned, thereby cutting off all communications with his aircraft. Major Kong’s B-52 was last reported near Soviet airspace.

He will always be remembered for his eloquent and inspirational words…

“Now, boys, we got three engines out; we got more holes in us than a horse trader’s mule; the radio’s gone and we’re leakin’ fuel, and if we’s flying any lower, why, we’d need sleigh bells on this thing. But we got one little bulge on them Rooskies, at this height, why, they might harpoon us but they dang sure ain’t gonna spot us on no radar screen….”

Major T. J. “King” Kong

Now let’s get this thing on the hump — we got some flyin’ to do.

Courtesy of www.Sierrahotel.net.

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