Harold Gillam, one of Alaska's first bush pilots

[Story]

Harold Gillam achieved legend status in his lifetime. One of Alaska's first bush pilots, he achieved fame for flying in conditions that kept others on the ground. When he did crack up, everyone on the plane walked away without a scratch. Old time Alaskans noted with a touch of awe that "Thrill 'em, Spill 'em, No-Kill 'em Gillam" never lost a passenger.

That changed on Jan. 5, 1943, on a flight from Seattle to Annette when, unable to make radio contact with the airport, ice building on the wings and one engine down, his Lockheed Electra 10 crashed in remote wilderness southeast of Ketchikan.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/07/27/2993640/book-tells-how-passengers-in-a.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Elmonteman]

Great story, thanks for posting. Last year as we climbed on a small plane to get close up views of Mt. Denali (McKinley) in Alaska, my wife looked at the pilot and immediately asked, "How long you been flying and how much did you have to drink last night?"

 

[DesertDan]

That was a great story, what an ordeal.

 

[DeniseAdams]

The bike's aren't quite the same vintage as your bike (1962 and 1964) but the racing is excellent.