Stories from Alaska |
Saga of Onion Bay |
I was an Alaska Bush Pilot during the 1960's. On a very rough winter day I was flying a seaplane, a Grumman Goose amphibian, fighting my way back to my home base of Kodiak. The weather was getting worse by the mile. Thick snow showers were growing larger and were beginning to join up together to form a wall of thick snow all the way to the ocean surface. So far I had been able to work my way around or between the squalls. Aft, in the cabin, my two passengers, both professional Alaska fishermen were unaware of my rapidly growing problem. With no radio aids at my landing area I needed to say in visual contact with the shoreline and ocean in order to find my way home. I turned into Kupreanof Strait, flying three hundred feet above the cold rough sea below me. Suddenly I realized that the strait was blocked from one side to the other up ahead. Not good, I thought as I quickly started a steep turn back around to escape this snow squall up ahead. As I came on around in my turn I found that the two snow showers I had passed between a few minutes before had joined up and now presented another wall of snow. I was cut off from my escape route. I continued my turn knowing I needed to find smooth enough water to land on. Help me dear Lord! I prayed. The straits below me were all white caps and much to rough to land in and have my amphibian survive. As I came back around to my original heading I saw the entrance of Onion Bay off to my left. Onion bay was a narrow dead end bay four miles long with steep mountains along its sides and end. Saying a short prayer to God, Thank you dear Lord, for this landing area, I pulled the power back on the two big radial engines, checked that my wheels were up and locked, selected half flaps and turned on into the small bay. My heart was beating fast and I knew I had just a few minutes to get onto the water. The storm was thickening fast. The wind, coming off the mountains, shook and bounced our Goose badly as I slowed and fought to bring the keel of my aircraft closer and closer to the now much smoother water in the sheltered bay. Fighting the turbulence as I neared the water I was able to hit the bay with only a small bounce. After touching down, we left a trail of spray behind us as I sped along at about fifty miles per hour towards the end of the bay. Snow was starting to fall as the storm followed us into the bay behind us. Thank you Lord for your blessings I thought as I chopped the power and allowed the Goose to settle down into the water and become a boat. My heart was still racing as I selecting the wheels down. I slid open my side window and taxied slowly towards the rocky beach ahead. Cold wind and spray slapped my cheek as I watched for the bottom start to appear below me. I was headed for a beach of small rocks, which was beside the entrance of a large creek rushing into the bay. Close by the creek entrance was the only area with small enough rocks to allow us to pull up part way onto the beach. Onion Bay presented a rocky shoreline all the way around it. Slowly, I approached the beach at a forty-five degree angle and powered one main wheel up onto the rocky bottom. The aircraft shook and rattled as I then swung the tail around up towards the trees just behind the narrow beach. I held my breath as the tail swung up the beach. I didn't need to smash the tail into a tree and damage us. The plane stopped, it wheels nestled in the small rocks. I relaxed in my seat and thought, Is there any remover of difficulties save God? He is God! Thank you dear Lord for your help to keep us safe today. Shutting down both engines, I shut off all switches and, taking a few deep breaths, climbed through the door into the cabin. "Gentlemen, we were caught by the snow and I am afraid we are stuck here for a while because of this storm." I told my two passengers. "AI am going to spend a few minutes getting some lines from our plane tied to a couple of trees. Then we can brew up some hot water for tea or instant coffee. We have rations to eat and it's a strong possibility that we will be spending the night here. I doubt this storm will get better before dark. Hopefully, tomorrow morning will be a better day." I finished. Both of my passengers were experienced Kodiak Island fishermen. They had faced bad winds and storms before, so neither was too concerned. Stuck on a small rocky beach for the night was just another episode during their life as Alaskans. Outside it was cold. The snow was falling and the wind gusts were shaking our Goose more frequently. We only just got in here in time, I thought, noting that the visibility was now just a few hundred feet. With my passengers help I was able to get lines tied two directions onto trees, which would hold our tail from moving much from side to side. The wind was continued to pick up and I figured the gusts were now up over thirty-five miles per hour and increasing. The Goose rocked during the wind gusts but with its two main wheels nestled in the rocks and its tail tied I felt it was about as secure as I could make it. I had been unable to get off a radio call before making our quick landing. I was worried, knowing that.the Airways knew I was headed into town. They would be worried when I didn't show up. I needed to get a radio message through to town. "Gentlemen. Do you have phone numbers in Kodiak that the Airways can call to let your people know you are okay and spending the night in Onion Bay?" I asked my two passengers. They both provided me with phone numbers. I then asked the younger of my passengers, Alex, if he would help me get a radio call into town. I needed his help to hold up my trailing HF antenna up above the ground while I transmitted our message. Soon he was walking slowly down the beach as I reeled out the antenna, until I had the strongest transmitting signal. Holding the antenna's end by it's rubber cup he kept it from sagging down to the ground and shorting out the signal. With the master and radio switches turned on I held my breath that I would make contact. I called my office in Kodiak. Twice I called. Then I heard them answer. Quickly I gave them our situation and phone numbers to call for my passengers. They would inform my wife I was safe also. We sat up a time in the morning to call in if the weather was still poor. Feeling much better, I again thanked God for his blessings this afternoon and secured all the switches and made sure nothing was still on to run down the main battery. Our emergency gear we carried included several flashlights, four sleeping bags, soup mix and marine biscuits, power bars, tea and coffee. Using two small Sterno stoves we mixed and heated our soup ate biscuits and enjoyed our hot tea and coffee. Alex and the older fisherman, John, and I chatted about Kodiak weather, the fishing industry, how good next years fishing season would be and after awhile ran out of things to discuss. I told them I felt strongly we had help from above in getting into this place. The results could have been much different. Both had experienced close calls on their boats and knew what I was talking about. Just before dark I made an outside inspection and all seemed secure. Because of the stronger wind gusts now, the plane was rocking more and more but it would take almost twice the present wind speed to lift and damage the plane. These thoughts were going through my mind as I climbed back into the cabin and secured the hatch. It was going to be a long night. Alex and John were laying on the floor between the seats in their sleeping bags. I had a nylon mailbag around my legs and a sleeping bag wrapped around me as I sat in the seat closest to the door into the cockpit. I didn't say anything to my passengers, but I was more worried because the wind gusts were continuing to increase in strength and the Goose was rocking more and more. The tide had now gone out completely, to it lowest point, and the plane sat on the beach completely out of the water. Keep us safe tonight, Dear Lord! Were in my thought as I drifted into an uneasy sleep. I woke up with a jerk! Something is wrong! What is happening? I shifted upright in my seat as the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. Roaring wind noise! MOVEMENT! Oh, dear God! It feels like the plane is flying! While freeing myself from the sleeping bag and mail sack, and trying to leave my seat, the right wing of the goose dropped, and with a crash, the plane hit the water and rocks on its right landing gear and wing float. Immediately, the other wheel hit with a heavy jarring and my plane was back sitting on the beach. Hanging on during our unscheduled crash landing I crawled forward into the cockpit. The controls were still tied down but I hung onto the wheel ready to try and keep the Goose on the ground if another heavy gust hit the plane. I heard a yell from the cabin. "What happened?" Alex called. "Everything is okay. The plane got tipped from a wind gust. Go back to sleep." I called back. I slid open the right cockpit window and aimed my flashlight out towards the wing float. O Lord, I=m stuck here now. That float is hanging just by its wires. The struts are completely busted! I bet the right gear is damaged too. I stayed awake the rest of that night. Checking my watch I found that we had our short flight just after one in the morning. The storm was now raging and I sat the rest of the night in the pilot's chair hanging onto the controls. Around five A.M. I felt the worse was over as the wind had died down to about the same as when we had arrived the afternoon before. The snow squalls were also decreasing. I hope we can get some help today. I'm not much for spending another night around these parts. Maybe the Airways can get a boat over here from Port Bailey. Spending the night on a boat is a big step up from sleeping inside this bird. Dawn was after eight that morning. Both of my passengers were up about six and Alex repeated his chore of holding up my antenna while I checked in at seven AM. I told the dispatcher that we got damaged during the night and that I needed a rescue when the weather broke. My airplane wasn't in flying condition at present. After it got light I inspected the landing gear and found no visible damage. The wing float was smashed, as was the wing tip. I wondered if the main wing spar had been bent. The good news, as I walked around outside the plane, was that the snow had quit and the wind gusts had dropped. Visibility was three or more miles with a low overcast against the mountains. As I looked around me at the bay, the rocky beach and the forest behind me, I prayed, I give praise to Thee, O my God, that your protection surrounded my passengers and I last night. I thank you with all my heart for your mercy and blessings and I pray for your continued help at this time. Amen. Well, that's all the excitement in this story. The weather continued to improve. Another plane was able to arrive shortly after midday bringing a new float and struts and two engineers to make the repair. My two passengers said goodbye, thanking me for the exciting night, and flew on into town in our rescue plane. The two repairmen and I arrived back in Kodiak shortly before dark that day. Over the years I have continued to thank God for the Protection, Love and Blessings He has given me at various times, for my loving wife and children and for my continued safety in my chosen career. I know of very few Airmen who do not have God close to their hearts. The End |
