Here's an interesting comic strip...
- Thread starter The Laughing Vulcan
- Start date
Very inspirational (and true) story. Although, the way it's told there, makes me think Mr. Roddenberry might've decided to abandon his post and spend his last moments flirting with one of the passengers.
In truth, he wasn't the co-pilot, but was the third officer (and probably a "deadhead" pilot) with no real responsibilities during that flight. And the flight crew in '47 all died. Wiki tells me that actually three crewmembers survived (Roddenberry, a purser, and a flight attendant), and worked valiantly at saving a slight majority of the passengers. Including the Prince of Phaltan (in India).
It's nice to know that some of our fictional heroes were created by real-life heroes.
I heard GR tell the story verbally once (if it's on the 1976 record album Inside Star Trek, then that was where), and I don't recall anything about leaving his post and comforting a passenger. But in that spoken telling, he did say he was "dead heading" without explaining the term.
The comic is based on GR's authorized biography, his version of the story. Just to play Devil's advocate, is it possible that he figured the plane was going to crash nose down, smashing the cockpit, so he removed himself to the safest part of the airframe?
Since the story is based on Roddenberry's official biography, you could take it with a grain of salt as the man was a great embellisher. However, it still makes for a pretty good story and an inspirational one.
It's an amazing story, to be sure, but the version told here has too much embellishment and invention for my tastes.
The comic, for example, implies that the two parties went out randomly into the desert after the crash. In actuality, there were power lines spotted near the crash site -- the two parties were sent out to follow them, one in each direction. Even David Alexander's version, which is immensely flattering to Roddenberry, includes this detail.
The comic also suggests that the crash was a formative moment for Roddenberry in which he realized he wanted to be a writer, not a pilot. In truth, Roddenberry was already taking writing classes at the Columbia University Extension, and had previously enrolled in writing courses at another university before Pan Am transferred him. Flying with Pan Am was a job, not Roddenberry's ambition.
Roddenberry would later describe the crash as a formative moment -- but not one when he realized what career path he wanted to take. Rather, he said it was the moment when he realized he did not believe in God.
There are other things, but I must be off to work.
The comic, for example, implies that the two parties went out randomly into the desert after the crash. In actuality, there were power lines spotted near the crash site -- the two parties were sent out to follow them, one in each direction. Even David Alexander's version, which is immensely flattering to Roddenberry, includes this detail.
The comic also suggests that the crash was a formative moment for Roddenberry in which he realized he wanted to be a writer, not a pilot. In truth, Roddenberry was already taking writing classes at the Columbia University Extension, and had previously enrolled in writing courses at another university before Pan Am transferred him. Flying with Pan Am was a job, not Roddenberry's ambition.
Roddenberry would later describe the crash as a formative moment -- but not one when he realized what career path he wanted to take. Rather, he said it was the moment when he realized he did not believe in God.
There are other things, but I must be off to work.
According to this, the plane crashed on its belly, and that matches one of Roddenberry's recollections that the flight crew (all seven, excluding the sole survivor Roddenberry) were all slumped over and either unconcious or dead from the cockpit window. The window couldn't be broken into before fire enveloped the cockpit.
Roddenberry, according to his biography, was ordered into the cabin by the pilot (Joseph Hart) in order to help wake up all the passengers and make sure they were all fastened in. Hart and the rest of the flight crew deserve all the credit for managing to land the plane, without wheels, wings, and while on fire, in a way that allowed a majority of the passengers to survive.
..and even that is called into question, when one considers the ceremony he had for his newborn son (as witnessed & recalled by Filmation's Lou Scheimer in the book Creating the Filmation Generation).
According to Joel Engels' biography of Roddenberry, he was the third officer on the flight and had no responsibilities on the 2200 mile leg during which the crash occurred. He was in the rear of the passenger compartment with 26 British and Italian passengers.
Five hours into the flight when the number one engine malfunctioned. Roddenberry was asleep in the passenger cabin. Some time later, the thrust bearing on the number two engine failed.
At that time the flight steward noticed that the "fasten seat belt - no smoking" sign had come on and awakened Roddenberry.
Roddenberry remained seated and belted in until impact.
Roddenberry was one of a few survivors who was fully ambulatory. He walked five miles to Mayadine and telephoned the British garrison at Deir-ez-Zor to report the situation.
Five hours into the flight when the number one engine malfunctioned. Roddenberry was asleep in the passenger cabin. Some time later, the thrust bearing on the number two engine failed.
At that time the flight steward noticed that the "fasten seat belt - no smoking" sign had come on and awakened Roddenberry.
Roddenberry remained seated and belted in until impact.
Roddenberry was one of a few survivors who was fully ambulatory. He walked five miles to Mayadine and telephoned the British garrison at Deir-ez-Zor to report the situation.
I can believe this version. Why GR had to improve on the truth, I don't know.
Because we all tend to embellish the facts, from time to time. And Roddenberry was a master at it.
I just gotta know - Who gives up a pilot's job to be a policeman? Wasn't flying for Pan Am in those days the most prestigious thing ever?
I also am curious about the crash(es)? when he was flying for the Army Air Corps.
So the story goes he went from NY (where a ton of TV was produced back then) to be a Cop so he could write (for TV?) on the side?
Something is missing in all this. Have thought so for some time.
I also am curious about the crash(es)? when he was flying for the Army Air Corps.
So the story goes he went from NY (where a ton of TV was produced back then) to be a Cop so he could write (for TV?) on the side?
Something is missing in all this. Have thought so for some time.
Our own Harvey has pointed out an article which removes most of the myth-making around this story. Here it is (link).
I'm not sure how good the Pan Am job would have been post-WWII but still quite a while before Pan Am's glory days of the '60s and '70s. This definitely deserves further research.
I've heard that airline pilots tend to struggle for years in low-paying jobs with smaller airlines, waiting for the few-and-far-between opportunities to open up at bigger airlines.
Kor
Here's another detail from the comic that doesn't match contemporary reports -- according to the comic, there was "a fire, which caused a panic."
According to a statement made by stewardess Jane Bray at a Civil Aeronautics Board inquest several weeks after the crash (on August 6, 1947), however, there was no panic:
According to a statement made by stewardess Jane Bray at a Civil Aeronautics Board inquest several weeks after the crash (on August 6, 1947), however, there was no panic:
^^^That's in line with what you hear in a lot of accounts of disasters. People break into hysteria when they perceive there is some means of escape or saving themselves, like trying to get to an exit in a fire. When people realize there's no escape, the fight or flight instinct doesn't kick in as readily.
I buy most of Engel's account when it's compared to Alexander's, but this bit doesn't match contemporary descriptions. Here's more of Jane Bray's testimony at the Civil Aeronautics Board inquest (as reported in the August 6, 1947 edition of the New York Times):
I am skeptical that Roddenberry could have taken charge of the cabin from his seat.
Roddenberry wasn't serving as a pilot with Pan Am, nor as a co-pilot (i.e. first officer) like the comic claims -- he was a third officer. This was a junior position with the airline. To make his way to the senior position of pilot, Roddenberry would have first needed to work his way up through the ranks:
