There used to be this ratty old Piper Arrow parked on our ramp. The owner, Tom Crull would fly it for a couple of hours once or twice a week. This went on for 20 years. He was as ratty looking and old as his airplane. Many of us didn't think he had a medical as he didn't get around very well. He was extraordinarily cheap and wouldn't spend any money on his aircraft unless absolutely necessary. After he passed and the airplane was sold, while preparing it for the new owners, his family told us that he was an ex U-2 pilot. Whoda thunk it.
24 Sep 59
Whilst conducting a test flight in Article 360 from Det C in Atsugi in Japan, Tom Crull encountered problems on a test flight and eventually ran out of fuel. With great skill Tom Crull managed to dead-stick the aircraft onto a small civilian airfield at Fujisawa, where it was promptly surrounded and photographed by curious Japanese civilians.
The damaged U-2C aircraft was shipped back to Lockheed in the USA for repairs. Article 360 was then returned to Detachment B at Adana in Turkey where it gained a reputation as a 'Hanger Queen'. For a variety of reasons
Article 360 ended up being flown by Gary Powers on Mission 4154, Operation Grand Slam, when he was shot down.
