The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-21
STORY OF A THRILLING
SOVIET AIR RESCU &
Young Engineer Risks Life
When Dynamo Is
Torn Loose

THE Red Army newspaper, "hras"
1 maya Zviezda," dsscr.b-s an in
cident during the execution OF
some difficult air maneuvers car
ried on at night over the open sea
by a squadron Of hydroplanes. One
of the planes was in command Of
Bortnoysky, and a young engineer
of the squadron, Victor RusakoY,
was on board.
At a height of 1000 meters, when
the plane was over the open sea,
the cabin and side lights of the
plane were suddenly eXtinguished.
The commander of the plane noti-
fled Rusakoy that the dynamo had
been torn loose from the plane and
apparently fallen into the wa er.
The duty of the engineer was 70
look after the equipment of the
plane. He was responsible for It's
condition, and was obliged to react
Immediately to the slightest defect.
ADDED to that, the nsc.ousn1 IS
of responsibility for the airplane,
and for the lives Of the crew meant
immediate decision and action, be-
cause the dynamo is one of the
most important factors in night
flying.
A COURAGEOUS DECISION
Without stopping very long TO
think, Rusakov made his way
quickly into the motor gondola OF
the plane, boldly hung over the
side, head foremost. to see what
had become Of the dynamo. What
had happened was that it had been
torn from its fastenings, and hang
ing by a few cables, was dangling
from the plane in such way that
if it were torn loose, it would knock
against the propeller in failing. If
that happened there would be an
accident, unavoidable catastrophe.
At night, in the open sea, far from
the base, among the raging waves
these thoughts flashed through
his head like hghtning-but action
was necessary.
Rusakov briefly informed the
commander of the plane that the
dynamo was hanging in the air.
He asked that the speed be les5ened,
as he had decided to climb out and
seize the dynamo. Easily said, but
almost impossible to accomplish.
Nonetheless, the decision was taken,
and must be executed, because an
other secondhand catastrophe was
inevitable.
AS to what happened then, we
"a shall let Rusakov speak for
himself:
Il passed a note to the COM
mander asking him to reduce the
speed still further.
While the commander read the
note by the light of a pocket flash,
1 instructed the technician Pshe-
nichny to throw me the end Of the
cable, and with the cable 1 climbed
into the motor gondola.
Opening the hood of the motor,
I pushed the end of the cable
through and paid it out. The rush
of air carried it back toward the
stern. When had paid out
enough so that it would reach to
the hatch, I made fast the end,
craWled back, caught the loose end
and fastened it to the frame of the
motor. In this way / achieved
something in the nature of life
line. That would be my support IL
I climbed out Of the plane into
space. Everything was ready.
Il warncd them that it would
take five or ten minutes to grasp
the dynamo. l called Pshenichny
into the gondola and explained my
problem. 1 climbed out of the gonl
dola The cold current from the
propeller tore my body from the
plane. My hands grew numb.
Sparks from the muffler flew into
my face. Clinging to the rope, 1
crawled along, pressing against the
aluminium of the plane. 1 reached
the dynamo, raised up on my
knees, seized it, and it pulled easily
away.
with the precious load in my
left hand, alternately holding on to
the lifeline with my right hand
and teeth, crawled back to the
cabin. Alongside the hatch I
caught the lifeline with one hand,
was growing weaker. The terrible,
nervous strain was beginning to tell.
] tried to pull the dynamo into the
cabin, but unsuccessfully. The re-
sistance was so great that I could
not pull the dynamo with one hand.
Comrade Pshenichny held me with
one hand, but neither could he
take the dynamo with his other.
The thought flashed through my
mind. Throw il overheard in
to the water but even then Il
would fall into the propeller and
the dynamo was valuable. 1t had
to be pulled aboard. 1 shook my
head, shouted to Pshenichny TO take
the dynamo, but he did not hear
me. How could one hear with the
motors roaring overhead
PURPOSE is ACCOMPLISHED
Seeing my helplessness, Pshe-
nichny decided, better one than I.
all. He let go of me and binding
over CAUGHT hold of the dynamo in
my outstretched hands. at that
moment I was holding on with my
teeth only.
THE most important thing was
accomplished. The dynamo was in
the cabin. 1t remained for me to
climb in But danger of a catas-
trophe had not yet passed. If
should fall, it would mean under
the propeller, Making last ef-