Capt. Ronald L. Cavendish and his crew successfully land their B-52 Stratofortress after the aircraft lost both of its rudder-elevator hydraulic systems. The crew earns the Mackay Trophy for this feat, which had never been accomplished without significant damage to or complete destruction of the aircraft—the citation accompanying the trophy describes “almost impossible conditions.”
The crew from the 19th Bombardment Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., included Cavendish, 2nd Lt. Frank A. Boyle, 1st Lt. Michael J. Connor, 1st Lt. James D. Gray, Capt. Ronald D. Nass, 1st Lt Gerald E. Valentini, and TSgt. Ronald B. Wright.
