There are 155 feet between the deck of the Mackinac Bridge and the Straits of Mackinac below. Affectionately known as the “Mighty Mac” or “Big Mac,” this 5-mile long suspension bridge is the primary artery connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. 12,000 vehicles go over this modern engineering marvel each day. But one fine spring day in 1959, one man decided to go under it.
Captain John Lappo shuttled troops overseas in both the Pacific and European Theaters during World War II. He flew 28 successful bombing runs during the Korean War (and his bomber took down four Soviet-made fighters while doing it), and won the Distinguished Flying Cross during his stint as a pilot for the Strategic Air Command.
It should surprise no one that Captain Lappo decided to finally give in to this daring bridge-buzzing impulse on an April afternoon in 1959. The previous night’s mission—a mock bombing run and celestial navigation—had passed as smooth as a chocolate laxative. It had been a long, dull evening. Like any good pilot, Lappo was bored and like any good pilot, he had excelled in his career precisely because he was a risk-taker. These training missions were no fun at all.
There he was, flying over Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, piloting the B-47, “the World’s Fastest Bomber”
“I’m taking her under!” Lappo announced then asked if any of the crew wanted to voice their objection. They cheered their captain on.
But the new navigator didn’t cheer. He recommended the captain maintain the legal minimum altitude. Lappo acknowledged this and promptly ignored it. The Air Force had transferred Lappo’s old navigator and installed this green one. The seasoned captain understood a young airmen usually met an anxious airmen. He’d loosen up.
In mere seconds, Captain Lappo earned his place among other Air Force legends. The B-47 plunged to the deck (the water’s surface) and then leveled out 75-feet above it.
This navigator’s father happened to be a high-ranking general, who would be informed of the flight the moment the B-47 landed. He ratted out his crew mate. That resulted in a court martial.
here's the testimonials.
Still, Captain Lappo had pled and was found guilty. He readily accepted the judgment of the court. $300 dollar fine.
And the assholes took away his flight certification permanently.
Captain Lappo spent 13 more years in the Air Force. He first served as a maintenance officer in Vietnam, then as the Executive Officer of Elmendorf Air Force Base in southern Alaska. He retired to private life in 1972, now a prestigious and grey-haired Lt. Colonel John Lappo. He remained in Alaska the rest of his life, starting a trucking business and raising his children and grandchildren.
https://orangebeanindiana.com/2022/02/08/the-bomber-under-the-mackinac-bridge
The problem here is not about clearance above and below the plane. The problem is what might fall from the bridge and damage the airplane. Other than that it was a really cool thing to do.
ReplyDelete"...like any good pilot, he had excelled in his career precisely because he was a risk-taker."
ReplyDeleteThis could not be any further from the truth!
I worked in aviation for many years. A general rule in aviation is that if someone tells a story of how they or someone else completed an incredibly daring and risky maneuver you can always trace their steps back and identify the moment in which they made a simple mistake that placed them in the situation of having to executer the risky maneuver. Excellent pilots don't make the simple stupid mistakes that force them down the road to have to take risks. Excellent pilots are boring. Excellent pilots complete their mission without risking their plane and crew.
This story however is worse. Lappo didn't make a mistake that forced him to fly his plane and crew under a bridge. He CHOSE to risk his plane and crew just to show that he could. This is not different than the idiot that does a burnout when leaving a cars & coffee meet. Most idiots will do the burnout with no consequence but every now and then one looses control of the car and drives into the crowd hurting someone.
What was the point in Lappo's stunt? Was there any benefit for all the risks he took?
I think you might not see the point of view that makes that "...like any good pilot, he had excelled in his career precisely because he was a risk-taker." a true statement.
DeleteI'm not here to change your mind, I hope you understand that I respect your point of view, and thank you for sharing it with me, ok?
But not many people risk their life as a pilot, fewer do it in the combat military aircraft, if you see what I'm talking about.
It's not a life of comfort, security, and safety.
So that statement, to me, is looking at a military pilot who was flying in WW2 and the Korean War, in combat, who was in battles with Russian aircraft (deadly) as a risk taker.
You bring up your aviation career, so, I'd like to hear about that!
Were you a pilot, planner, logistics, cargo, airlines or some other aspect?
Also, I think when you mentioned "excellent pilots" you might be referring to civilian airline pilots, not military combat or the CIA pilots in Air America who did risky things on the daily.
WW2 pilots? Bombers, fighters, torpedo planes, and amphibs, they seem to me to have been risk takers, and certainly had a tough job to accomplish, night or day.
You're right, doing a bridge run is a lot like a burnout leaving a car show.
Most can handle it, but it's a risk to everyone in the area.
What was the point?
I'm surprised you ask, I read the entire original article, I think you only read what I chose to repot. The point was to enjoy the ride. Any benefit? An accomplishment on his bucket list.
Oh, and barnstormers were a thing a long time ago, the mentality of a lot of young men is to take risks, do daring things, and have risky adventures.
Those characteristics in the male of the human race resulted in explorers, leaders, and conquerors. Those guys in history fought at the Alamo, pioneered the wild west, explored the North West Passage, sailed the seas, etc etc.
They weren't farmers, librarians, and academics.
I get your point and appreciate that you are not trying to change my mind. This is not about changing anyone's mind. We are just having a "written" conversation.
DeleteI just think the article you posted confuses daring and risk taking with being a good pilot. I have no problem with people performing stunts and taking risks. I have a problem with people risking other peoples lives while performing stunts and taking risks!
I just think this stunt was childish and he got the punishment he deserved.
What this guy did is not different than racing on the streets while risking others. If you want to race your car get on a track and enjoy it as much as you can or want. I'm all for that! Don't risk innocent people so that you can check a box on your bucket list!
Armed forces and CIA pilots fly risky missions. There is no doubt about it! These missions many times require pilots to take risks that are beyond belief to achieve their mission. Argentinean pilots flying over the South Atlantic at 20ft for hundreds of miles to avoid British radar during the Falklands war comes to mind as an example. These were incredibly skilled pilots!
The thing though is that military pilots take these risks because it is required to complete their mission. Military pilots taking additional, unnecessary, risks only makes the success of the mission less likely. The risks that military pilots take are always calculated and weighted against the strategic importance of the mission. Risks are taken because there is no other option not because they feel like it could be fun.
Excellent pilots don't take unnecessary risks. Excellent pilots prioritize the safety of their crew, aircraft and people on the ground. When Lappo performed his stunt he was not caring for anyone other than himself and the need to scratch an itch to fly under a bridge.
I think we can all agree Lappo was a very skilled pilot. I just don't think he was an excellent pilot.
I understand the need to push the limits. I get the urge to go out an push the boundaries of what is possible. I admire explorers that venture beyond what was known at their time.
Lappo's stunt was not about pushing the limits of aviation.
Thanks for your patience!
DeleteI love your blog!
Please keep it up. You find tons of interesting material and I thoroughly enjoy visiting multiple times a day.
I remember back in 1968 a Navy T-33 slammed into the cantilever section of the San Francisco Bay Bridge killing both pilots and creating quite a mess...
ReplyDeleteWhoa! I never heard of that, well, mostly because it happened before I was born, and there's very little about it that would get brought up on the internet now... but I am going to look that up, thank you for the info!
Deletehttps://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/BayBridgeT33.htm - but that was an accident, like the twin engine bomber hitting The Empire State Building some years before.
ReplyDeleteAs for Cpt. Lappo and his stunt, he didn't risk the plane or its crew. Sure, pilots in military jets are supposed to be disciplined and all, but like sled dogs (pardon the comparison) the best ones also have a wild streak in them. And if I had been aboard that jet, I'd have cheered him on too.
https://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/BayBridge_Wildcat_1943.htm
ReplyDeletehttps://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/BayBridgeT33.htm
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19680212.2.12&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
Jesse, I understand what you're saying and totally agree with you, however "Those guys in history fought at the Alamo" were damn fools. LoL
ReplyDeleteAround 1968 I met the new kids in school at Chugiak High. JonJon, Leo, Suzette, Helena and Mike Lappo. Leo and I would become best friends and we would spend most of our time out terrorizing Eagle River but occasionally I'd find myself at the Lappo home either in the trailer park behind the old Carrs or later up Eagle River Road. I got to see a few of the airplanes Mr. Lappo built in his garage and many years later after my own stint in the Military I had the honor of being the Honor Guard at John Lappo's memorial service at the VFW in Eagle River. I found out about his date with the bridge while researching his life for the Memorial Service cards I provided.
ReplyDeletewow, thank you for the background!
DeleteNothing I read mentioned John's building planes in the garage!
I hope if you comment again, you leave a first mane. "Unknown" is so weird to have associated with such a terrific story
have you been a reader here for a while? Or did you just come across this post so soon after I posted it?
DeleteGear and flaps down. For a lower airspeed?
ReplyDeleteAlso it seems like he would have gained a bit more altitude after passing under the bridge prior to banking.
I wonder what the boater in the pic was thinking.
Actually I wonder if the pic is a fake since it appear that the bridge is still under construction. It appears that the bridge deck was not installed yet, and there is construction equipment on the bridge. Also the bridge opened for traffic in 1957 if I recall correctly, as a U.P. kid who rode the ferries across the Straits to reach the Lower Peninsula. I guess it is possible the date of the flight could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteOh I doubt the picture is actually real and relates to the story, but it was used for reference, and I used it for the same reason... stories are better with a photo.
DeleteNotice the plane is pulling a parachute