A Hostage to Fortune
Ernest K.Gann, noted author, sailor, filmmaker and artist was a guest of the 380th Bomb Wing at Plattsburgh AFB, NY on May 14 and 15, 1982. Responding to an invitation by LTC Dick Iversen, 528th Bomb Squadron commander, Mr. Gann was here to to be the guest speaker at a Dining-In on May 15 and fly in the FB-111A. After having received egress training the previous day, Gann, who was 71 at the time and had been flying for 47 years, was ready to climb aboard a 380th BW's FB-111A. For this flight, LTC Hank Williamson was assigned as Gann's IP in FB-111A 68-0262 while LTC Dick Iversen and Major Don Lee flew aircraft 68-0248 named "A Hostage to Fortune" after the autobiography by Ernest Gann. The two-ship mission was to be a routine formation flight around the local area, followed by some low level, and air refueling.
"It's a wonderful airplane to fly, very efficient, relatively easy to fly, even I can get it around the sky without too much help. That's the best testimony of the airplane, and to say nothing about Colonel Williamson, who was my fearless leader. In fact, he deserves at least another DFC for surviving the flight." said Gann after landing. LTC Hank Williamson, from the 528th Bomb Squadron, gave Mr. Gann his "check ride" after he got the feel of things at the 380th AMS's FB simulator with the assistance of the 4007th CCTS personnel. Mr. Gann said, "The airplane is really a docile flying machine." He added that Plattsburgh AFB was the most beautiful Air Force base he ever had been on.
LTC Hank Williamson remembers well that flight! "I did in fact gave Mr. Gann a memorable flight, but not without reason." said Williamson. Mr. Gann published an article in the August 1971 issue of True magazine about the fighter version, F-111A, after flying it at Cannon AFB, NM. "I wanted to show him how we flew the plane in SAC, and how great the bird was to fly." added Williamson. "During the low-level part of the flight (200' and hard-ride), I pulled up the thermal shield that blocks the pilots from seeing out of the front of the windscreen. He almost came unglued! We were in between the Adirondack Mountains at around 600 knots. Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed showing off the capabilities of the One-Eleven. Later, after exiting Low-Level, we flew over Lake Champlain and streaked Tradewells Bay at 25' and around 450 knots before landing at the base. It was a great flight and one I'm sure he remembered!" said Williamson in conclusion.
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