A Flight Mechanic Sat on the Tail of a Fighter Plane—And Accidentally Took the Ride of Her Life

Describing herself as being "in a funk when it comes to climbing ladders or riding bicycles," Margaret Horton, a Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) mechanic during World War II, would find herself in a far more thrilling—although highly precarious—position while performing a mundane task in the war. Or rather, what was supposed to be a mundane task.

In 1945, Leading Aircraftwoman Horton was one of the ground staff at the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Hibaldstowe base in North Lincolnshire, England. Her duties included participating in a "Rough Weather Procedure" that required a person to sit atop an airplane's tail end to prevent it from tipping forward or to the side during high winds, especially while operating on uneven ground. The propeller-powered aircraft were small and light compared to today's brawny fighter jets, and this human ballast stabilized the planes as they taxied slowly to the takeoff point.

One windy day, it was Horton's turn, so she scrambled on top of the fighter plane, a Supermarine Spitfire. Once it reached takeoff position, she anticipated communicating with the pilot that she was about to hop off through predetermined signals.

Horton's first inkling that something was seriously wrong came only moments before it was too late for her to jump off. For some reason, the pilot on that flight, Lt. Neill Cox, never realized that a Rough Weather Procedure was in place. Nor could he see her perched on the tail from his position in the pilot's seat.

View in Browser  SHOP EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBE A Flight Mechanic Sat on the Tail of a Fighter Plane—And Accidentally Took the Ride of Her Life A Flight Mechanic Sat on the Tail of a Fighter Plane—And Accidentally Took the Ride of Her Life Describing herself as being "in a funk when it comes to climbing ladders or riding bicycles," Margaret Horton, a Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) mechanic during World War II, would find herself in a far more thrilling—although highly precarious—position while performing a mundane task in the war. Or rather, what was supposed to be a mundane task. In 1945, Leading Aircraftwoman Horton was one of the ground staff at the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Hibaldstowe base in North Lincolnshire, England. Her duties included participating in a "Rough Weather Procedure" that required a person to sit atop an airplane's tail end to prevent it from tipping forward or to the side during high winds, especially while operating on uneven ground. The propeller-powered aircraft were small and light compared to today's brawny fighter jets, and this human ballast stabilized the planes as they taxied slowly to the takeoff point. One windy day, it was Horton's turn, so she scrambled on top of the fighter plane, a Supermarine Spitfire. Once it reached takeoff position, she anticipated communicating with the pilot that she was about to hop off through predetermined signals. Horton's first inkling that something was seriously wrong came only moments before it was too late for her to jump off. For some reason, the pilot on that flight, Lt. Neill Cox, never realized that a Rough Weather Procedure was in place. Nor could he see her perched on the tail from his position in the pilot's seat. Describing herself as being "in a funk when it comes to climbing ladders or riding bicycles," Margaret Horton, a Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) mechanic during World War II, would find herself in a far more thrilling—although highly precarious—position while performing a mundane task in the war. Or rather, what was supposed to be a mundane task. In 1945, Leading Aircraftwoman Horton was one of the ground staff at the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Hibaldstowe base in North Lincolnshire, England. Her duties included participating in a "Rough Weather Procedure" that required a person to sit atop an airplane's tail end to prevent it from tipping forward or to the side during high winds, especially while operating on uneven ground. The propeller-powered aircraft were small and light compared to today's brawny fighter jets, and this human ballast stabilized the planes as they taxied slowly to the takeoff point. One windy day, it was Horton's turn, so she scrambled on top of the fighter plane, a Supermarine Spitfire. Once it reached takeoff position, she anticipated communicating with the pilot that she was about to hop off through predetermined signals. Horton's first inkling that something was seriously wrong came only moments before it was too late for her to jump off. For some reason, the pilot on that flight, Lt. Neill Cox, never realized that a Rough Weather Procedure was in place. Nor could he see her perched on the tail from his position in the pilot's seat. Read More Read More The Best 6 Fire Extinguishers For Your Home, According to an Expert A fire chief weighs in on what to look for in an emergency fire extinguisher. Read More These Editor-Approved Gutter Guards Prevent Clogs Before They Happen Ensure everything is free from leaves, debris, and other detritus. Read More Clean Up Your Sidewalks and Garden Beds With These Lawn Edgers for Homeowners Give your yard a tidy, manicured look with these editor-approved tools and accessories. Read More Scientists Say Complex Life Is an Astounding 1.5 Billion Years Older Than We Ever Thought This groundbreaking evidence pushes back the timeline for early organisms on Earth. Read More 63 Ancient Tombs Have Emerged in Egypt, With Long-Lost Treasures and Statues Inside Archaeologists were thrilled to find the untouched burial sites filled with priceless relics. Read More Need Assistance? Contact Us. Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Popular Mechanics is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779