Graydon Evans

Graydon Evans (1908 [Weaver, unnumbered.] – November 25, 1943) was an American test pilot for a leading military contractor during World War II. He and his crewmates were killed in the crash of an experimental airplane in Texas after his repeated safety warnings were ignored. The tragic incident brought about significant reform in how future test flights were managed.

Evans was from Bolivar, Ohio, where he was educated in the public schools. He became a pilot in the early 1930s. With the outbreak of World War II, he wanted to join the United States Air Force, but was turned down because of his age.

In 1943, General George S. Patton was urging President Franklin D. Roosevelt to complete the testing of combination bomber/fighter planes, which would offer air superiority over the Luftwaffe and provide support for any invasion of Europe. These new aircraft were designed to fly at altitudes of 20,000 to 30,000 feet. Evans' considerable experience in civilian flying landed him a job as a test pilot for the newly merged Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair) in Fort Worth, Texas.

Consolidated Vultee was commissioned to conduct test flights to provide detailed information on the new plane's performance for the Army Air Force. Evans reviewed the designs for the new aircraft that he was supposed to test fly, and he discovered that the engines could catch fire during flight because of a poorly designed de-icing system. Sunbeam De-Icer heaters had been installed inside the wings too close to the fuel lines. Concerned about safety, Evans ordered rubber booting from Goodyear in Akron, Ohio, to protect the vulnerable de-icing system. However, the date for the test flight was scheduled prior to the arrival of the booting. Officials ordered that the plane be taken up for a test flight with a full crew despite Evans' warnings.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1943, the plane took off fully loaded for its initial test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the first engine caught fire as Evans had predicted, and then a second engine soon caught fire. Powerless, the plane crashed before an emergency landing could be made. All the men on board were killed instantly, except for the tailgunner who died thirteen hours later.

The requested rubber bootings arrived shortly after the plane had crashed. Consolidated Vultee subsequently removed the faulty heaters from remaining prototypes and installed the rubber bootings that Evans had recommended, which continued to be used as part of a safe de-icing design. The man who insisted the test flight be made early committed suicide shortly thereafter.

The body of Graydon Evans was brought back to Sandyville, Ohio, for burial. At each stop along the way to change trains, he was given full military honors before embarking again. Evans was thirty-five years old when he died.

References

* Weaver, Samuel E., "Farber Families of an Early Ohio Pioneer who Settled Sandy Creek Valley". R. H. Dodge, 1978.

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