Quote:
Originally Posted by BE911SC
USAF crew nickname for the C-119 was "Dollar Nineteen." Apparently $1.19 was a popular price for smaller items back in the old days.
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My favorite tale/myth about a C-119 allegedly took place at Kadena AFB on Okinawa in the 1950s. A typhoon was approaching the island and all the aircraft were either tied down or had flown out to other bases. A "flying boxcar" was flying in from somewhere with a broken radio so was not aware of what was going on. He did a fly by of the tower and and somehow signaled them that he was landing before setting down on the deserted runway. After pulling up on the flight line, a geep drove up and told them about the storm and to get the heck out of there. Before they could get into position for a takeoff the winds picked up dramatically. The pilot turned the plane into the wind while sitting on the tarmac, set the brakes and set the flaps to hold the plane on the ground. He kept the engines running to match the apparent wind speed and used the brakes and rudders to keep the plane pointed into the wind to "fly" out the storm. Somehow I doubt this really happened but one never knows.
