Post-WarDiscuss RUN OVER BY A B-36... AND LIVES TO TELL ABOUT IT! in the Other Eras forums; BETWEEN THE WHEELS
Not many people can be run over by an automobile and live to tell about it. Most ...
Not many people can be run over by an automobile and live to tell about it. Most would say that if it was by a B-36, there would not be any chance. Thomas Holste is an exception. Holste was an Intelligence Specialist in the 436th BS and had been in the process of updating all of the map cases that were carried on each plane at all times. The crew navigators would normally return the cases to their plane, but Holste decided to take this one out since the plane was parked very close to the office.
The aircraft was being preflighted at the time, and while the crew chief was running the engines up to 1900 RPM, the brakes failed and the plane jumped the chocks. Holste was climbing the nose entrance ladder one hand at a time while carrying the heavy case of maps in the other. The plane lurched as he was reaching for the next step and he fell as the plane started to roll forward. He was able to position himself so that the nosewheels passed on either side of him. He received some abrasions and other minor injuries, but nothing serious. The USAF Aircraft Accident Review magazine of December 1950 carried this story.
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if
they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.]
Marines don't have that problem."
-- Ronald Reagan
"Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill
"To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today"
Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if
they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.]
Marines don't have that problem."
-- Ronald Reagan
Not to be critical or anything, but if he had the time to postilion himself between the wheels, couldn't he just get out of the way entirely? Can you elaborate on this?
Not to be critical or anything, but if he had the time to postilion himself between the wheels, couldn't he just get out of the way entirely? Can you elaborate on this?
Very lucky...
He was already on the ground as the plane approached him and did not have time to get up. I've seen the article many years ago.
The pic shows where he fell. If you ever seen a B-36 there's plenty of room between the NLG wheels.
And keep in mind, those tires are bigger than life. Kinda like asking why you could not dodge an elephant when you are lying on your back right in front of him. Quick thinking I say. Or sheer bloody luck.
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if
they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.]
Marines don't have that problem."
-- Ronald Reagan
Hi All, Tom Holste is my father-in-law and he is alive and well and has told me the story of him getting run over. He did have more then a few bruses but was none the less very lucky. I'll ask him to post something here to give some details of his adventure.
Nice to see someone thinks enough of the story to keep it going.
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Originally Posted by magnocain 
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