The Headless Pilot of Guam

When I was serving in the Air Force, back in 1982, I was stationed for a six month tour on the Island of Guam. I was a flight crew attendant, on the B-52 G models, my position was tail gunner. I was doing a modes check one day, checking out my system, to assure that it was workable, when I saw someone standing behind me, via my peripheral vision. At first I thought it was my counterpart, the Electronics Warfare Officer, so I didn't pay much attention, and continued my diagnosis of the modes check.

It was then that I heard on the headphones, my E.W. talking. He was in the bomb bay with the Co-pilot and the Crew Chief, and asked me if I was almost completed. I knew that there were only four of us there at the plane, and I heard all three of the others speaking on the headset. It was then that I turned around to see who it was that was standing behind me. I have never had any experience quite like what I saw. I could not believe what I was looking at, and I was stunned, to say the least.

I saw a man, a captain, by his rank insignia, standing there, in a flight suit. His arms were crossed, as though he were waiting impatiently, and from his shoulders up, there wasn't any head! I let out a yell over the headset, urging my fellow crewmembers to get to where I was, as I was, nervous to say the least! As I began telling them why, it was then that the figure slowly faded, and in a matter of seconds, was gone. When I calmed down a bit, I began telling my crewmembers what I had seen. Surprisingly, the Crew Chief, who had been stationed there the longest, told me that he not only believed me, but that I was not the first one to see what I saw. It was then he told me the story that I am about to tell you.

During the Vietnamn War, there was a period, referred to as the Nine Day war. Many B-52 Bombers were stationed at Guam during this time frame, so as to be within range to fly missions over Vietnamn. The Landing strip at Guam is a very unique one. It starts out on a high grade, goes downhill, then starts up hill again, like a giant V. At the end of the runway, as a plane gains speed going downhill, it approaches S1, and then going uphill, looses speed, until it reaches the end of the runway. So, as you can understand, because of this unique factor, the aircraft commander, must reach a very high rate of speed in order to become airborne. But, that is only the first part, for at the end of the runway, is a sheer drop off, into a bay.

The story goes that this Captain, was attempting to fly out of Guam, to accomplish a bombing mission, but did not have enough speed to successfully make the run. The Bomber, (according to what I was told) crashed into the bay, where it could be seen in the clear water, and because of the depth, was left there. The crewmembers lost were salvaged, but the pilot, a captain, lost his head, and the head was never recovered from the crash. According to the crew chiefs, and other pilots, this captain has been seen over the years, by many. Whether he is still looking for his head or not, I do not know, all I know is that I saw him, and will never forget it for the rest of my life.

Anyone who has ever served time at Guam, I am sure has not only heard of this story, but most likely, knows of it, or has had a personal experience. I was told I was not the first, and I suspect I was not the last. Well, believe it or not, that is my story. I can only add that on a "Wierd Meter" of 1-10, with ten being really, really wierd, that experience punched a fifteen by my standards.