INDESTRUCTIBLE SMITH

[Music] [Applause] well that's how it started in instance Smith's hometown 1,500 miles away I wrote the story five minutes after the fourth star hit the street everyone in the office screamed for attention I was banging out a new leaf when Blake mr. Blake the Townsend attacked from over Smith everybody wants to know what killed their favorite son the only all-american they ever had now it's up to you to find out talk to these people they know him best and pour on that hero stuff Smitty great performer and a whenever the gun got rough Smitty it roll up his sleeves and pull up his helmet he was always contemptuous of personal injury that's how he got the name of indestructible and the crowd loved him [Music] he was a lovely boy he never cared about anything he literally defied the omen regardless of the weather he'd wear the same old outfit it was sort of a trademark one summer I gave him a job in the shop even a bad time too but she just stand there grinning at me seems you never bothered with what you call safety precautions you ought to check them planes before they let a boy get killed like that so I knocked out a batch of features carrying Smith from cradle to college to get the dope on his Navy training I went to see a guy who was at Pensacola with him why sure Smith receive adequate instruction and flight safety and everything else just like the rest of us flight safety precautions begin on the ground the well-dressed pilots should wear a regulation flight suit or corporal with sleeve and pant legs roll down you may Harbor a deep affection for those old coveralls but worn out flight gear is frowned upon in the best aviation circles not that the Navy is interested in sartorial elegance it simply wants to protect you from burns if fire breaks out before taking off check the cabin emergency release for security because the canopy could be jettisoned inadvertently injuring or killing the pilot during flight adjust your seat to allow sufficient space between the top of your head and the overturned structure so you'll be protected in case of a nose over always wear helmet gloves and goggles crank the canopy to the full-back position and lock it before every takeoff and landing lock the shoulder harness and call both straps equally tight if the plane is equipped with the inertia real sit well back in the seat because the real will lock in your position at the time of impact all very interesting but the people still wanted to know what was responsible for Smitty's death they all blame the Navy they all thought the tragedy could have been aborted there was only one way for me to find out I quite agree with you mr. blink the tragedy could have been avoided take a look at the accident report major facial injuries extreme burns fatal emergency landing engine failure cars undetermined misuse of safety equipment children is locked but not tight failed to lock canopy in open position did not wear authorized protective clothing no indication safety equipment would have failed observance of fundamental flight safety precautions would have saved the pilots life [Music]