Transport: Hero

Flying the mail out of St. Paul one night four years ago, Pilot Mal Bryan Freeburg of Northwest Airlines spied a flaming railroad trestle, flagged a crack passenger express to a stop with his emergency landing flares, saved many a life including that of Golfer Robert Tyre ("Bobby") Jones Jr. For that feat he received a gold watch from the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R., $100 from the Chicago Daily News.

Two years later Pilot Freeburg was flying eight passengers to Chicago in a trimotored Ford when an outboard propeller broke. Vibration...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!