Cape Lookout

Just another day at the office...

As you know, the great thing about my job is where I get paid to work.

And for the history buffs, a bit of history; in August 1943 B-17F #42-30326 (flying out of Pendleton AAF base) had a high-speed encounter with terrain along the south flank of the Cape. Apparently the pilot had descended to below 200 feet AGL in an attempt to determine his location in one of the Oregon Coast's typical thick summer fogs.

Here's the official report: AAF Form #14: Aircraft Accident Report; Call #46234, 8-2-43 Accident #14

8-2-43. Cape Lookout, Oregon. At 1130 PWT, a Boeing B-17F collided with rising terrain at Cape Lookout, Oregon, killing nine fliers and seriously injuring bombardier 2Lt. Wilbur L. Perez. The crew was scheduled to fly a final navigation training mission prior to being deployed overseas as a combat crew. The B-17F took off at 0900 PWT from Pendleton Field, Oregon, and was to fly to Cape Disappointment and then 500 miles out to sea and then return directly to Pendleton Field. Heavy cloud covered the coastal region when the B-17 arrived in the area at 10,000 feet, the overcast topping out at about 8,000 feet. In an attempt to locate Cape Disappointment visually, the pilot descended through the overcast over the Pacific Ocean and then flew the airplane toward the shore. The Aircraft Accident Classification Committee stated, "The flight towards the shore was made at an altitude of 50 to 150 feet, practically blind. The bombardier stated that he could see the water directly under the airplane, but the vision ahead was nil. It is believed that the pilot hoped to angle in to the beach somewhere near the Columbia River and then follow the shore to Cape Disappointment. However, the pilot must have become doubtful about approaching land at such a low altitude and visibility. A climb into the overcast was started a moment or two before the crash. Just after the climb was started the airplane crashed on the crest of Cape Look Out." The elevation of the point of impact was approximately 900 feet msl. Investigators stated that some of the crew had survived the crash but died before they could be rescued. Crewmembers killed in the crash were: 2Lt. Roy J. Lee, pilot; 2Lt. Robert W. Wilkins, co-pilot; 2Lt. Victor A. Lowenfeldt, navigator; SSgt. Delmar F. Priest, engineer; Sgt. William F. Pruner, gunner; SSgt. Benjamin Puzio, radio operator; Sgt. Paul W. Mandeville, assistant radio operator; SSgt. Harry Lilly, gunner; SSgt. Hoyt W. Wilson, gunner.

Frankly, it's pretty incredible that 2LT Perez survived; the pilot, a 2LT Lee, sounds like a complete fuckup.

But he did, passing away just four years ago.

Anyway, here's another pretty picture from the Coast:

See ya tomorrow.