RUN OVER BY A B-36... AND LIVES TO TELL ABOUT IT!

[Matt308]

BETWEEN THE WHEELS

Not many people can be run over by an automobile and live to tell about it. Most would say that if it was by a B-36, there would not be any chance. Thomas Holste is an exception. Holste was an Intelligence Specialist in the 436th BS and had been in the process of updating all of the map cases that were carried on each plane at all times. The crew navigators would normally return the cases to their plane, but Holste decided to take this one out since the plane was parked very close to the office.

The aircraft was being preflighted at the time, and while the crew chief was running the engines up to 1900 RPM, the brakes failed and the plane jumped the chocks. Holste was climbing the nose entrance ladder one hand at a time while carrying the heavy case of maps in the other. The plane lurched as he was reaching for the next step and he fell as the plane started to roll forward. He was able to position himself so that the nosewheels passed on either side of him. He received some abrasions and other minor injuries, but nothing serious. The USAF Aircraft Accident Review magazine of December 1950 carried this story.

 

[timshatz]

Better to be lucky than good.

 

[Gnomey]

Yeah, he certainly was very lucky - although he did have presence of mind to line himself up between the wheels.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Wow talk about fricken scary! One lucky SOB.

 

[Matt308]

 

[ToughOmbre]

If I were him, I'd be goin' to church every day the rest of my life.

TO

 

[Bf109_g]

I gotta agree with you on that one, TO

 

[magnocain]

Not to be critical or anything, but if he had the time to postilion himself between the wheels, couldn't he just get out of the way entirely? Can you elaborate on this?

Very lucky...

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Not to be critical or anything, but if he had the time to postilion himself between the wheels, couldn't he just get out of the way entirely? Can you elaborate on this?

Very lucky...

He was already on the ground as the plane approached him and did not have time to get up. I've seen the article many years ago.
The pic shows where he fell. If you ever seen a B-36 there's plenty of room between the NLG wheels.

 

[Matt308]

And keep in mind, those tires are bigger than life. Kinda like asking why you could not dodge an elephant when you are lying on your back right in front of him. Quick thinking I say. Or sheer bloody luck.

 

[Gordy Ram]

Hi All, Tom Holste is my father-in-law and he is alive and well and has told me the story of him getting run over. He did have more then a few bruses but was none the less very lucky. I'll ask him to post something here to give some details of his adventure.

Nice to see someone thinks enough of the story to keep it going.

 

[Thorlifter]

That would be cool Gordy. Thanks for posting...

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Welcome to the forum Gordy. 8)

I am looking forward to hearing your father in-laws side of the story.
It is always great to hear from someone involved in the event.


Wheels

 

[vikingBerserker]

Holy fricken gees!

 

[syscom3]

Gordy, ask him if he has any pics of the B36's at his airbase.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

WOW!! He was fortunate. And now we might even get the rest of the story. This is so cool.

 

[Amber]

I have heard this story many times all my life and it's still an amazing story!! I'll try to get him on here since he loves to tell the story!! : )

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I have heard this story many times all my life and it's still an amazing story!! I'll try to get him on here since he loves to tell the story!! : )

Thanks Amber, that would be great!!!!

 

[Amber]

Well, my Pop-Pop doesn't have much patience for the internet so he didn't seem too excited about getting on here but I thought maybe I could relate some of the story for him. Someone before asked if he had any pictures of the B36 and yes he does, I'll see if I can borrow it and scan it in. Funny, I got him talking about it today and he was telling me how fast this all happened (he said the whole event only took seconds) but it still felt like he had alot of time to decide what to do. He was going on adreneline, he said the first thing he thought was that he couldn't believe he didn't get the wind knocked out of him from the fall! He then saw the wheels coming at him fast and realized the only thing he could do was position himself in between them the best he could. The wheels rolled over his body and once he was clear he rolled over and got up and tapped a boy that was nearby on the shoulder and asked for help. He said the boy had seen the whole thing happen but had turned away because he couldn't watch him get crushed to death. The boy was amazed to see he was alive let alone standing up and tapping him on the shoulder!! He was taken to the hospital and amazingly the xrays didn't show any broken bones. Funny he had never broken a bone in his body and then just this past winter he slipped and fell on the ice and broke his foot! He's 80 years old and been run over by a pretty big airplane and he breaks his foot slipping on some ice, lol!! If anyone has any more questions I would be happy to ask him and relate it here! It's really neat that people have an interest in his story after all these years!! : )

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

That is amazing. Amber, if he does not mind it would be interesting to see a photo of him when you post the other photos. Thank you for sharing the story.