Transport: Pickaback

Frank H. Krebs is a tall, 26-year-old member of the army reserve corps at Chicago’s Municipal Airport. One day last week Frank Krebs ran out onto the field, hopped up on the wing of an idling plane to have some routine papers signed. Before Pilot Lieut. Lewis J. Connors saw Krebs, he saw the “go” signal from the field’s control tower and started the plane along the runway. Before Krebs realized what was happening it was too late to jump. He slid astride the fuselage as the plane took off, hung on by the edge of the rear cockpit for dear life. He thought he was in for a pickaback ride all the way to St. Louis. Fortunately a traffic control officer saw him and radioed Pilot Connors to land. As the plane rolled to a stop, Krebs slid to the ground. He was still clutching the papers. His comment, as he handed them up for signature: “No cowboy ever rode a bronc harder.”