DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick Sr. correspondence regarding his son's fatal crash, 1945-1946

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Nile Kinnick Sr. correspondence regarding his son's fatal crash, 1945-1946

1945-12-28: Page 03

OIL LEAK. An oil leak of any kind is serious. A very small leak if occurring in the top bank of engine cylinders often will be blown back on the windshield obscuring vision and making landings difficult. A larger leak will be noticed by a drop in oil pressure, increased cylinder head temperature, and will result in eventual engine failure. Oil leaks do occur frequently, in varying degrees of seriousness, and in many different parts of the oil system. Fleet doctrine allows the pilot to request an emergency forced landing at any time the pilot considers the plane to be in an unsafe condition, although the engine may be functioning perfectly and all guage readings may be normal.
GENERAL SITUATION. The ship had received a radio transmission from Nile to the effect that his plane had an oil leak, and that a landing was requested. As I recall, the deck was spotted with planes preparatory to launching the next flight. The ship's flight department immediately began clearing the deck, pushing the planes forward manually, but this often takes thirty minutes or longer. The flight had reached the carrier and could have then landed aboard except for the fact that the ship could not then receive planes. I do not remember how long the flight circled the ship. Nile evidently considered it wiser to make water landing than to attempt to land at one of the Trinidad airfields. He notified the ship of his intention, and with the remaining planes of his flight standing by to spot the landing and direct rescue, executed a water landing, into the wind, and about three miles ahead of the destroyer, on the starboard bow. The landing appeared to be a hard one. 
CARRIER ACTION. The destroyer carrier out the customary recuse doctrine. The LEXINGTON landed planes, then returned to the crash area and thoroughly patrolled the spot for several hours. Every effort was made by the Captain of the ship, the Commander of the air group, and all hands. The carrier returned to the States the following day. Commander Buie can be reached at his home address, Nashville, Georgia, or at the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. I would suggest that you also contact Lieut. Ardis H. Durham who was flying, I think, at the time the crash occurred. His last address was Naval Air Station, Sanford, Florida, and his mail will be forwarded. An additional source of information will be the Aircraft Accident Reports on file with the Bureau of Naval Personnel and the Bureau of Aeronautics. I am sure everyone will be cooperative. Should you desire the details of fleet doctrine concerning emergency landings, the reactions of fighter planes making water landings, or any information, of a more technical nature concerning the type plane flown, its flight characteristics, or the engine in use, I shall be more than glad to assist you in obtaining such information. Please do not hesitate to ask any other questions that I might be able to answer.

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OIL LEAK. An oil leak of any kind is serious. A very small leak if occurring in the top bank of engine cylinders often will be blown back on the windshield obscuring vision and making landings difficult. A larger leak will be noticed by a drop in oil pressure, increased cylinder head temperature, and will result in eventual engine failure. Oil leaks do occur frequently, in varying degrees of seriousness, and in many different parts of the oil system. Fleet doctrine allows the pilot to request an emergency forced landing at any time the pilot considers the plane to be in an unsafe condition, although the engine may be functioning perfectly and all guage readings may be normal. GENERAL SITUATION. The ship had received a radio transmission from Nile to the effect that his plane had an oil leak, and that a landing was requested. As I recall, the deck was spotted with planes preparatory to launching the next flight. The ship's flight department immediately began clearing the deck, pushing the planes forward manually, but this often takes thirty minutes or longer. The flight had reached the carrier and could have then landed aboard except for the fact that the ship could not then receive planes. I do not remember how long the flight circled the ship. Nile evidently considered it wiser to make water landing than to attempt to land at one of the Trinidad airfields. He notified the ship of his intention, and with the remaining planes of his flight standing by to spot the landing and direct rescue, executed a water landing, into the wind, and about three miles ahead of the destroyer, on the starboard bow. The landing appeared to be a hard one. CARRIER ACTION. The destroyer carrier out the customary recuse doctrine. The LEXINGTON landed planes, then returned to the crash area and thoroughly patrolled the spot for several hours. Every effort was made by the Captain of the ship, the Commander of the air group, and all hands. The carrier returned to the States the following day. Commander Buie can be reached at his home address, Nashville, Georgia, or at the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. I would suggest that you also contact Lieut. Ardis H. Durham who was flying, I think, at the time the crash occurred. His last address was Naval Air Station, Sanford, Florida, and his mail will be forwarded. An additional source of information will be the Aircraft Accident Reports on file with the Bureau of Naval Personnel and the Bureau of Aeronautics. I am sure everyone will be cooperative. Should you desire the details of fleet doctrine concerning emergency landings, the reactions of fighter planes making water landings, or any information, of a more technical nature concerning the type plane flown, its flight characteristics, or the engine in use, I shall be more than glad to assist you in obtaining such information. Please do not hesitate to ask any other questions that I might be able to answer.