
Your AAF 45-09-20 (25) Blind Landings
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AAF Announcer
To keep the Peace to pioneer the future, the new mission of your AAF in cooperation with the American Broadcasting Company, the Army Air Forces presents your AAF a report to the American people on its continuing operations today throughout the world and their adventures in research which are pioneering for your better world tomorrow. Tonight you will hear from Wright Field, the AAF Bass Research Laboratory, an actual blind landing made by a pilot who never touched the control. From Washington, Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson, answering directly a mother's questions about her soldier son. From Japan, an interview with Generals Giles, Linne and o' Donnell before the first non stop flight from Japan to the United States and from Washington, the first radio pickup of their arrival. And as always, the singing voices in the orchestra of the AAF bringing you the best of the top music of.
Captain Dick Orchard
The.
AAF Announcer
And from the All Soldier Orchestra.
Co-Pilot
It's a tune in the tempo of the times.
AAF Announcer
Get happy.
Sam
Sam. It's.
AAF Announcer
At Right Field Dayton, Ohio. The vast research laboratories of the aaf, backbone of American Air mite. Notable among Right Field's achievements are the many safety devices developed during war to protect our airmen, all of which now become part of our daily lives. One of the most exciting of these is a device to land planes under any weather conditions entirely by radio control and without any assistance from the pilot. Your AAF takes you now by army wire recorder to the completely hooded pilot's compartment of an army plane now approaching Right field. To describe this landing, your AAF radio correspondent, Captain Bob Van Camp.
Co-Pilot
Go ahead, Captain.
Captain Bob Van Camp
This is your AAF reporter, Captain Bob Van Camp speaking. From the pilot's compartment is a blind bat, a C47 airplane flying at 2,000ft somewhere about seven miles from right Field. In just a moment we're going to attempt one of the most unusual broadcasts ever made. We're going to tell you just what happens as this great transport plane comes in for a completely automatic landing. Without human hands touching the controls, the windshield of our blind dad is hooded by a black cloth. It's impossible to see outside. Our pilot Captain Dick Orchard of Lakewood, Ohio, is going to use an automatic pilot which has been coordinated with the standard instrument approach. The system was developed by the Air Technical Service Command to make airplane landings simpler and safer regardless of weather conditions. At this moment, two different radio beams are being sent out from the Runway.
Captain Dick Orchard
Area at right field.
Captain Bob Van Camp
One marks the center of the Runway and the other indicates the descending path that our plane should take for its landing. All Captain Orchard needs to do is get on these two beams and then put his plane on automatic pilot. Mechanical brains will do the rest. Listen now to the landing preparations underway.
Captain Dick Orchard
Right Tower, Right Tower, this is Blind Bat, over. Blind Bath, this is Right Tower, over. Right Tower, this is blind bat. 7 miles west at 2000. Request clearance for automatic approach and landing.
Co-Pilot
Over.
Captain Dick Orchard
Blind Bat, this is Right Tower. Blind Bat, this is Right Tower.
Captain Bob Van Camp
You are cleared for approach and landing.
Captain Dick Orchard
Over. Right Tower, this is Blind Bat. Roger. Out.
Captain Bob Van Camp
Captain, what happens now that you're cleared by Right Field for this automatic landing?
Captain Dick Orchard
I'll turn on the automatic approach and from now on we will. Until we land, the Blind Bat will fly itself.
Captain Bob Van Camp
Say, I can feel this airplane banking and turning as it gets set. That means the automatic pilot has taken hold, huh? What do you do now, Captain Orchard?
Captain Dick Orchard
All we have to do now is sit tight and watch the instrument panel and get ready for the final landing. Let's make our landing check now, Max.
Captain Bob Van Camp
Okay, gear down and lock.
Captain Dick Orchard
High RPM 20 degrees of flaps. Booster pumps are on.
AAF Announcer
Hydraulic pressures up fin set.
Captain Bob Van Camp
On the instrument panel, a little vertical needle can be seen exactly centered on the indicator dial. That shows that we're right in line with the Runway at right field. Another horizontal needle tells us that we're descending at just the right angle. That's where this automatic pilot has it all over. Manual landings, you know you're coming in just right.
Captain Dick Orchard
Right Tower, Right Tower, this is Blind Bat on final bullet. Blind Bat, this is Right Tower. You're clear to land. Over. Right Tower, this is Blind Bat. Roger. Out.
Captain Bob Van Camp
How close are we now, Captain Archer?
Captain Dick Orchard
Less than four miles now, maybe three.
Co-Pilot
How can you tell?
Captain Bob Van Camp
See this light just above the indicator?
Captain Dick Orchard
Uhhuh.
Captain Bob Van Camp
It flashed two times a second just before I called the.
Co-Pilot
When we get one mile out, it.
Captain Bob Van Camp
Will start flashing six times a second. When we're down to 50ft over the end of the Runway, it will burn continuously. Our blacked out C47 is going down.
Captain Dick Orchard
At approximately 400ft a minute.
Captain Bob Van Camp
And believe me, that's fast when you're under a hood. In case you're interested in the Brains behind this new development. Credit for combining these two great safety features goes to Lt. Col. F.L.
Captain Dick Orchard
Mosely, G.P. the Communications and navigation laboratory at Wright Field. Thanks to him and the engineers under.
Captain Bob Van Camp
His direction in the radio and radar subdivision. This new system for easy, safe, blind landings. Should soon prove a boon to civilian pilots. And, in fact, to every person who flies in the air age of tomorrow. This is really an eerie feeling. Knowing that the earth is coming up at you and not being able to see it.
Captain Dick Orchard
There goes that light.
Captain Bob Van Camp
It's flashing faster now. We've one mile to go, and the ground is just 200ft below. Both pilots are watching their instruments intently, sir. That ground is getting close. It won't be long now. If everything goes okay, we'll be hitting the Runway soon. The light's steady now. The altimeter shows 50ft falling fast. 25ft. Now get set.
AAF Announcer
Here we go.
Captain Bob Van Camp
Down to the Runway. There we are.
Co-Pilot
We made it.
Captain Bob Van Camp
We're rolling on the Runway. It was a perfect landing. Now let's tear off the hood and look out.
Co-Pilot
Yes, sir.
Captain Bob Van Camp
We're lined up perfectly on the runways. And that's how the automatic pilot ties IN with the AAF's Instrument Approach System From Right Field. We return you now to your AAF in New York.
AAF Announcer
Thank you, Right Field for another notable contribution called the safety of the future. Just 10 years ago, right Field was already peering into the future.
Co-Pilot
And the first automatic pilots were being.
AAF Announcer
Tested 10 years ago in 1935, when.
Co-Pilot
The only piloting most of us were.
AAF Announcer
Doing was the girlfriend around the dance floor or staring her outside to look at such natural phenomenon as Sergeant Bob Carroll and the singing voices of the aaf.
Captain Dick Orchard
Describe for you, Blue moon.
Sam
When you saw me standing alone. Without a dream in my heart. Without a love of my own. You knew just what I was there for. You heard me. Someone I really can cheer for. And then there suddenly appear before me. They only want my arms when I go home. I heard somebody whisper. Please adore me. And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold. Now I'm no longer alone. Without a dream in my heart. Without a love of my own.
Captain Dick Orchard
Sam.
Sam
Without a dream in my heart. You knew just what I was there for. You heard me say. A prayerful someone I really could care for. And then there suddenly appeared before me. The only one my arms will ever hold. I heard somebody whisper to me in the morning. And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold. Now I'm no longer alone in my heart. Without a love of my own.
AAF Announcer
In Washington, D.C. the Army Air Forces operates the Personnel Services Division, one of whose functions is a matter of insurance. Typical of the questions asked by soldiers and their dependents are those of Mrs.
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson
Philip R. Strzik, whose son is now.
AAF Announcer
Serving in the Philippines with the 5th Air Force. Mrs. Tresik has come here tonight to get some advice concerning her son's national service life insurance. And standing by in Washington D.C. to help her in this matter is Lt. Col. Lewis J. Grayson, an outstanding authority on the insurance problems of air force's personnel. Mrs. Trisik, Colonel Grayson is ready for your first question.
Mrs. Philip R. Strzik
Colonel. My son will soon be a civilian and we are trying to decide what we should do about his ten thousand dollar national service life insurance. He is single and he has nobody dependent upon him for support. For his own good, should he keep all his insurance, reduce it or drop it entirely when he is discharged?
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson
Well, Mrs. Strzik, someday your son will undoubtedly get married and raise a family. When that time comes, he will need and want all the insurance he can carry. However, he may then find himself unable to obtain insurance from a private company except at very high cost, if at all because of unsatisfactory physical condition or because of hazardous employment. He therefore should keep the insurance he now has at least until such time after discharge from the army as he can judge his needs and income.
Mrs. Philip R. Strzik
Should he keep it in its present form as long as he can, Colonel Clayson, or convert it now to ordinary life or some other permanent plan?
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson
That is an individual problem, Mrs. Tresik. Depending upon your son's ability to pay premiums, the sooner he converts it, the lower the premiums will be. There is an advantage, therefore in converting his insurance as soon after discharge from the army as he is well established in a civilian job and knows what he needs and can afford. Convert to ordinary life, 20 payment life or 30 payment life.
Mrs. Philip R. Strzik
In the event my son marries after leaving the service, can he name his wife, beneficiary and place a knee without a lot of red tape?
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson
Yes, by simply sending a written request over his signature to the Veterans Administration stating his policy number or serial number, his wife's full name and the amount of insurance.
Mrs. Philip R. Strzik
One last question, Colonel. Does national service life insurance ordinarily cost less than similar insurance with a private company?
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson
In national service life insurance, the government pays all the costs of administration. Also the government pays all the excess losses due to military or naval service. These savings are passed on to the policyholders. It is probable therefore, that this government insurance is the lowest cost insurance your son can get for his money.
Mrs. Philip R. Strzik
Thanks very much, Colonel. Greyson.
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson
Not at all, Mrs. Sturzyk. I hope we've helped you and your son.
Co-Pilot
We return you now to your AAF in New York.
AAF Announcer
To many a returning airman these days, the rhythm of the clicking train wheels makes a kind of music. And here's the air crew. To give you an idea of just how that music sounds.
Captain Dick Orchard
I think it.
Sam
Ought to send you number 49 she's the only one that found that way on the edge of Santa Peaker and I say she's the old folks riding round the bend I reckon that she knows you're gonna meet a friend folks around 8 parts get the time of.
Co-Pilot
Day from the accident the bigger the.
Sam
San I'll say here she comes hey Jen, you better get the wrist she's got a list of passengers that's pretty big and they'll all want lift the brown no pill Cause lots of them have been traveling for quite a spell all the way from Philadelphia on the at the chance of Piga and the Santa Fe the Atchison, Topega and the Santa Fe do you hear that whistle down the line Make a bad attendance party night the only one that'll sound that way on the at the Centipede and the Santa's Fair.
Captain Dick Orchard
See the old.
Sam
Smoke horizon rhyme the bed Reckon that you're going to meet up and folks.
Co-Pilot
Around these parks get the time of.
Sam
Day from the at the peak and the Santa Fe.
AAF Announcer
Here she comes.
Captain Dick Orchard
Clickety.
Co-Pilot
Clack clickety clack clickety doo doo doo.
Sam
Hey Jim, you better get the race.
Co-Pilot
Chugging along singing a song Flickety choo.
Sam
Choo choo she's got a list of passengers that's pretty big and they all want lift to Crowns hotel Because lots of them are traveling for quite a spell all the way from Philadelphia on the edge of Centipede on the edge of Santa Pig.
AAF Announcer
Tuesday of this week, three B29s wheeled into the air off a Japanese airfield and started on one of the most epoch making flights in nation history. The first non stop flight from Japan to America. To hear direct from Generals Giles, lemay and o' Donnell on the object of this flight and their reactions before making it. We take you now by army wire recorder to Mitsutani Airfield, Japan.
Co-Pilot
Go ahead Major Wets. This is your AAF reporter, Major Carol Wet speaking from Mizutani airfield near Chitose on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. In a few hours a new era of peacetime long range air transportation will begin as three B29s roar down this Runway for the start of one of the longest non Stop flights in history all the way from the Japanese empire to Washington D.C. these Superfortresses will be flown by three colorful Army Air Forces figures. Lieutenant General Barney M. Giles, Deputy Commander of the United States army strategic air forces. Major General Curtis E. LeMay, Chief of Staff of the Strategic Air Forces and former commander of the 20th Air Force. And Brigadier General Emmett O', Donnell, commander of the veteran 73rd Bombardment Wing of the 20th Airport. We have these three men at our wire recording microphone and they have agreed to supply some information about this flight. General Giles, just what is the purpose of this flight? The purpose of this flight is to study the feasibility of using the northern route between Japan and the United States. Paying particular attention to communications, navigation and weather. General Giles, how long do you think it would take a person to make the same trip by the usual water and land route? I would say from four to five weeks.
Captain Dick Orchard
From.
Co-Pilot
Sir, how much gasoline will you each be carrying when you take off? Each airplane will have slightly more than 10,000 gallons of gasoline. Figuring about six and a half pounds per gallon, that will be around 65,000 pounds weight or 32 tons, is that right? Yes, you are correct. How long Is this airstrip, General LeMay?
Captain Dick Orchard
8,200Ft long.
Co-Pilot
Is that plenty of room for you to get airborne with your load? Not plenty, but it's adequate. Is the Runway in pretty good condition, sir? Yes, this aerodrome has never been bombed, so the Runway is in fairly good condition. General o', Donnell, why was this airfield picked for the start of the flight? It was selected because it's the only airdrome in Japan which is adequate for fully loaded B29 takeoffs. Did the Japanese use this field for long range air operations? Not to our knowledge. But we understand that the Japanese had a project for launching one way four engine bomber kamikaze attacks from this field against our aircraft industry on the West Coast. Sir, what proportion of the flight will be over water? Approximately one third of it. General LeMay, do you anticipate good weather all the way and making a flight of this distance? It's impossible to find atmospheric conditions that will give you good weather throughout the entire route. We expect to have bad weather over a portion of the route. How were your crews fit for this flight? General Giles? All of these crews completed 35 missions or more against enemy and they were scheduled to go back to the States on normal rotation. One more question, sir. Will you carry our wire recording to Washington in your B29? Yes, Major west, we will be very glad to accommodate you.
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson
Thank you.
Co-Pilot
Lieutenant General Barney M. Giles. Major General Curtis E. LeMay and Brigadier General Emmett O' Donnell for giving us information on your history making flight. May we wish you good luck and Godspeed. This is your AAF reporter returning you to the United States.
AAF Announcer
In the lead plane of this flight carried from Japan to Washington in a matter of some 28 hours was the wire recording you have just heard in Washington. To pick it up and to cover the landing was our AAF reporter, Captain Howard Finch. For his eyewitness report of the landing. We take you now by army wire recorder to Washington and Captain Howard Finch.
Captain Dick Orchard
This is your AAF reporter, Captain Howard Finch speaking from the Bradley Point airport of the ATC in Washington D.C. yesterday at 4:01pm Eastern war time, three silver battle tested B29s roared off the runways of Mitsutani Field on the Japanese home islands of Hokkaido and headed toward the United States on a great circle route that was destined to carry them over one quarter of the distance around the Earth's surface. Fierce headwinds were encountered over northern Canada today which necessitated the use of more fuel and anticipated with the result that the Super Fort landed at Chicago, refueled and just a few moments ago landed in Washington and are now taxing to the apron here in front of the ATC terminal. And the crowd is milling around the first man out of the B29, Lieutenant General Barney Giles. He looks a little tired, but he smiles, smiling, smiling and seems very happy. And we're going to try and get.
Captain Bob Van Camp
Our microphones up here where we can.
Captain Dick Orchard
Pick up some of the official greetings. The crew of the first B29 in are now beginning to file out of the airplane. There is a terrific crowd milling around the plane now and congratulations being roared out. Bands are playing in the background. The individual members of the crew are being congratulated. General Arnold is talking to General Giles. And now one of the crew members of the B29s that have just landed. What is your name? Leo Miller, Sir. And what's your rank, Leo? That's Sergeant. And what was your job on the B29? I was one of the two radio operators that came along to carry on communications between air to air and air to ground. And which ship? Sergeant on number three, sir. Where's your hometown? Brooklyn, New York. How does it feel to be back now? It feels great to be back in civilization again for one thing. Where were you? Station Sergeant Cypan and Mariana's 73rd Wing. And what are your plans for the future? Well, I intend to go to college. University of Minnesota to be exact. I'm the flight. Sergeant, what was the one thing that thrilled you perhaps the most? Well, we saw three Russian fighter planes up by Siberia that recognized us and waddled their wings and then took off. And it was great to look down on those American cities again. Chicago and Washington at night. Good. Thank you very much, Doc. Now, ladies and gentlemen, General of the Army HH Hond. I want to tell you, Barney and Rosie and Kurt, that I'm very proud of the flight that you made. The crews and the planes and the leaders all lived up to our expectations. We knew that the B29 was good because we saw what happened in Japan, but we didn't know whether or not it could make this long flight back.
Co-Pilot
To the United States.
Captain Dick Orchard
And in spite of the headwinds, you made a wonderful flight. And I want to congratulate all of you. General Arnold, thanks very much for your congratulations. You not only think the airplane is all right, I talked to a number of Jap pilots and the head of the Japanese Air Force. He said the B29, the best bomber in the world. What is the true significance of this flight from Japan to the United States? The true significance of the flight was to give a real workout to the B29 to see what it could do in the way of traveling long distances until we could get some idea of the distance to be covered and the time it would require to cover. We need that information for the future to figure out just what we can expect of airplanes of this type. Thank you, sir. General LeMay, anything of an unusual nature happen on the flight? No, everything functioned perfectly. If it hadn't been for the headwind, we'd been here. Actually, we flew more air miles than.
Co-Pilot
Was necessary to make the trip.
Captain Dick Orchard
Where did you first hit the headwinds? We hit them all the way around, all the way across. Thank you, sir. General o', Donnell, at what height did you fly? Coming across in the main, we started out rather low and worked up to 25,000ft, which is the highest we attained, and landing at Chicago and coming into Washington. What height did you fly in from there? We flew in formation, 9,000ft. Anything of an unusual nature? No, nothing at all. Nothing at all, except that we were intercepted by two Russian fighter pilots and P63s off Kamchatka who gave us a big high ball and waved their wings at us and sent us in our way. And the United States looked mighty, mighty good. It surely does. Thank you, sir. And that about concludes the ceremonies of welcoming these three heroic crews who have landed here at Gravelly airport of the ATC in the nation's capital at Washington, D.C. we return you now to your AAF in New York.
AAF Announcer
To keep the peace, to pioneer the future. This is your AAF. During the last half hour, you've been listening to the official program of the Army Air Forces. Your AAF which came to you from New York City. This is the American Broadcasting Company.
Co-Pilot
Which.
AAF Announcer
Came to you from New York City. This is the American Broadcasting Company.
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Description: Delving into radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio, this episode transports listeners to a time before television when families gathered around the radio to enjoy iconic programs like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, and Dragnet.
Timestamp: [00:36]
The episode opens with an announcement introducing the mission of the Army Air Forces (AAF) in cooperation with the American Broadcasting Company. The AAF aims to report on its ongoing global operations, research advancements, and notable achievements that promise a better future.
Notable Quote:
"To keep the peace to pioneer the future, the new mission of your AAF..."
— AAF Announcer [00:36]
Timestamp: [04:04 – 08:21]
Captain Bob Van Camp narrates a groundbreaking demonstration of automatic landing technology. A C47 airplane, designated "Blind Bat," executes a landing controlled entirely by radio signals without any manual input from the pilot. This segment highlights the technological advancements made by the AAF to ensure safer and more efficient landings under any weather conditions.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
"All we have to do now is sit tight and watch the instrument panel and get ready for the final landing."
— Captain Dick Orchard [05:56]
"It was a perfect landing."
— Co-Pilot [08:15]
Timestamp: [09:13 – 10:58]
A soothing rendition of "Blue Moon" is performed by Sam, adding a melodic respite between the informative segments. The song captures the nostalgic essence of the era, resonating with listeners who appreciate classic tunes.
Lyrics Highlight:
"When you saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart..."
— Sam [09:13]
Timestamp: [12:45 – 16:10]
Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson addresses life insurance concerns from soldiers and their families. In this segment, Mrs. Philip R. Strzik seeks advice regarding her son’s national service life insurance as he transitions to civilian life.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
"He may then find himself unable to obtain insurance from a private company except at very high cost..."
— Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson [14:33]
"It is probable therefore, that this government insurance is the lowest cost insurance your son can get for his money."
— Lt. Col. Lewis C. Grayson [15:38]
Timestamp: [16:21 – 19:11]
A lively train-themed song performed by Sam and the co-pilot evokes the rhythmic sounds of train wheels and the bustling atmosphere of railway travel. This segment adds variety and a touch of Americana to the episode.
Lyrics Highlight:
"Chugging along singing a song, Flickety choo..."
— Sam & Co-Pilot [18:21]
Timestamp: [19:11 – 28:55]
A comprehensive report on the first non-stop flight from Japan to America, featuring interviews with Generals Barney M. Giles, Curtis E. LeMay, and Emmett O'Donnell. The segment details the flight's objectives, challenges, and significance for future air transportation.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
"The purpose of this flight is to study the feasibility of using the northern route between Japan and the United States."
— General Barney M. Giles [19:35]
"It feels great to be back in civilization again..."
— Sergeant Leo Miller [24:42]
"The true significance of the flight was to give a real workout to the B29 to see what it could do..."
— General Barney M. Giles [26:40]
Timestamp: [28:55 – 29:21]
The episode concludes with the AAF announcer thanking listeners and reinforcing the mission of the Army Air Forces to keep the peace and pioneer the future.
Notable Quote:
"To keep the peace, to pioneer the future. This is your AAF."
— AAF Announcer [28:55]
This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" expertly intertwines informative reports on military aviation advancements with heartfelt music and supportive segments, offering listeners a comprehensive glimpse into the Golden Age of Radio and the pivotal roles played by the Army Air Forces.