Falling Records

Colonel Michael McCoy, who commands the only combat-ready all-jet bomber wing in the U.S. Air Force, flew one of his sleek, swept-wing B-47s from the U.S. to Britain last April in a record 5 hr. 38 min. Last week, when his 306th Medium Bombardment Wing, battle-loaded with dummy atom bombs, set out for a 90-day tour in England, Colonel McCoy bent no throttles. Leading the first formation of 15 planes from Limestone, Maine to Fairford, Gloucestershire, the colonel took 5 hr. 53 min. to make the crossing.

Next day the pilots of the 306th began to show the colonel up. Of the 15 planes in the second echelon, one made the crossing in 5 hr. 37 min., and two more did it in 5 hr. 36 min., both shaving McCoy's April record. The final echelon, which roared into Fairford on the third day, did better still. One plane made the run in 5 hr. 30 min., another in 5 hr. 29 min. In the last of the wing's 45 planes came one of McCoy's squadron commanders, Lieut. Colonel Benny Klose, who shared the flying and navigating chores with his deputy, Lieut. Colonel Lawrence Grant, and the plane's regular pilot, Captain James B. Carter. Their average speed: 575 m.p.h. Their time: 5 hr. 2 2 min.

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