Subject: Batcat History Project From: "Lee Magers" Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 20:55:37 -0400 To: , , The following is a recap of an incident that awarded me the DFC and Flying Safety Award (Well Done) while serving as an Aircraft Commander of an EC-121. While flying a combat mission on Sept.6, 1968, callsign Batcat 1, I experienced an extreme nose-up pressure on the flight controls. While descending through 8000 feet I applied nose-down trim to counteract the nose high attitude. I realized the elevator trim control was full forward and immediately asked the Co-Pilot to assist in applying pressure to the yoke. With both of us pushing forward on the controls, we could not get the nose of the aircraft to come down. At this point the airspeed had dropped to 120 knots and continued to decrease. After several attempts, I was able to shut off the elevator control boost shift and therefore able to maintain the aircraft in a stable attitude. Declaring an emergency, I checked the hydraulic system several times which included a hot-line patch through the Air Force Command Center to the aircraft manufacturer. No leaks were discovered and no apparent system failure registered on any of the control panel instruments. Climbing to 5000 feet I simulated a normal landing configuration and noted the aircraft was controllable without hydraulic boost control. I elected to make a boost out landing using differential engine power to control the direction of the aircraft during descent and landing. It should be pointed out that I had two engines out and descended through a line of heavy thunderstorm activity with the base ceiling of only 100 feet and a visibility of one half mile. I asked for a radar (GCA) approach and landed the plane with 50 to 60 knot gusting winds and rain. After a maintenance inspection it was discovered that an elevator-control valve was applying pressure only to the upside of the elevator-control booster. This was a 1 in a million chance situation according to the factory manufacturer. The citation accompanying the award stated in part, Col. Magers, by displaying outstanding calm and maintaining an analytical approach during a severe emergency which could have resulted in loss of both aircraft and crew, was able to save a valuable aircraft and many lives. For this effort, Col. Magers was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this effort. I was a member of the 553rd. Recon.Wing. Often I remember and thank God for staying with me till I got the plane on the ground.