On the evening of September 30th 1951 a US Navy Pilot Naval Lt, (jg) Francis Coleman Anderson O-419051 was flying a Skyraider AD-1Q 09383 back from NAS Seattle to Mather AFB. The pilot became lost in bad weather and ditched off Point Reyes.
The aircraft ditched and the pilot and passenger (who had hitched a lift back to California from Seattle) had to struggle to get into Dinghy’s and paddle for the shore, where they arrived in the early hours of the following day October 1st 1951
The pilot was later KIA in Korea in a AD-4N Skyraider #125709 night bomber with Detachment F, Composite Squadron 35 aboard the carrier USS KEARSARGE (CVA-33) On January 28/29, 1953 Also killed was Aviation Electronics Technician Second Class John Robert Schmid #3182981 USN of Nebraska. Both crew are still listed as MIA (the aircraft serial is misquoted as #124748 on some web sites)
The passenger on the original ditching was an Army Private called Clinton ‘Clint’ Eastwood, and 65 years later he would direct the film Sully about an aircraft ditching on the Hudson river..
With thanks to George Kernahan on TOCH for furnishing me with the correct aircraft serials
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