Suspense. And the producer of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, the master of mystery
and adventure, William M. Robeson.
A couple of years ago, we were delighted to chill our audience with the performance of
Frank Lovejoy in a story of civilian aviation called The Long Night. Since that time, Mr.
Lovejoy, undaunted by the terrors of his performance, began taking flying lessons and recently
qualified and was licensed as a private pilot. This accomplishment, plus the many requests
of air-minded listeners, have impelled us to repeat the story now with a deep bow of
appreciation to the unsung heroes of the Civil Aeronautics Administration who manned the control
towers of the nation's airports all day long and through every long night.
Listen then as Frank Lovejoy stars in The Long Night, which begins in just a moment.
Memo on medals. Interesting information about our military awards and decorations. For almost
the first half century of its existence, from 1862 till 1904, the original design of the
Medal of Honor was identical for both the Army and Navy. A five-pointed star with a
large medallion in the center showing the goddess of wisdom, Minerva, warding off the
figure of discord. The Navy Medal of Honor hung suspended from its ribbon by a small
anchor. The Army Medal of Honor by an eagle resting on crossed cannons. Originally, the
ribbon was the same for both branches of service. Thirteen vertical stripes of red and white
topped with a blue border. In 1904, the Army changed its medal to the present design with
just the head profile of Minerva in the center of a smaller star backed with a green enamel
laurel wreath. In 1913, the Navy changed its Medal of Honor service ribbon and in 1919
made an additional change resulting in the present day design. Five white stars on a
field of blue. The Medal of Honor today, as in the past, remains the highest military
decoration that can be earned by an American serviceman for devotion and valor above and
beyond the call of duty. It is an inspiring call to great sacrifice and dedication, undimmed
throughout the long years of our history as a free people.
And now, the Long Night starring Frank Lovejoy, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Rockford Radio, this is Delta 2318, over.
Delta 2318, this is Rockford Radio, go ahead.
You stand in the airport control tower 90 feet up in the sky over Rockford Field waiting
to go on the night watch. And you'll listen to the babble of voices that fill the crowded
room in an endless series of requests. Requests for an altitude change, request for landing
permission, request for the weather.
Ceiling 2200 feet and lowering steadily. Smoke and haze below cloud ceiling with fog blowing
in from the northeast. Cloud, smoke, haze and fog in a ceiling getting lower every minute.
This is going to be a long night.
Okay, Charlie, I'll take it.
Yeah, well, happy landing.
Yeah, so long, Charlie.
Rockford, this is TWA Flight 70, 11000 feet, Medford 2100.
TWA 70, acknowledge.
Rockford, Rockford Tower, this is Beechcraft Bonanza 91457.
Beechcraft 91457, this is Rockford Tower, over.
I've been homing on your range and apparently my automatic direction finder isn't working
right.
What seems to be the trouble with your ADF?
I don't know exactly. I've been changing from one range to another just like I was told
to and I ought have been somewhere over Minneapolis long ago. I'm not.
All right, 457, we'll work something out for you. Where are you flying from?
Indianapolis.
What was your last known position?
Gee, last... Well, I'm trying to think. I guess the last time I positively knew where
I was was when I departed Indianapolis.
What time was that?
About 5.30, maybe 5.45.
5.30? Please verify. That would be more than three hours en route. You should be well out
of my range.
Yeah, I know, but I've been circling for more than an hour trying to make the ADF work and
looking for Rockford.
What's your remaining fuel?
Well, I guess there's no use kidding myself. I think I've got about 45 minutes, maybe at
the very best an hour.
What's your altitude?
I'm at 5,000 indicated, about 1,000 above the clouds.
457, take a good look around you. Are there any breaks in that overcast? Do you see any
holes, any thin spots in your area at all?
No, no, no, it's solid. It's a completely solid layer.
Are you an instrument pilot?
What do you mean?
How many of you checked out on instruments? Do you have any instrument training?
No, no, no, I've never been on instruments in my life. I'm just lost.
In a moment, we continue with the second act of suspense.
Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsythe.
Ooh, ow, ouch, ooh.
What's wrong, Joe?
Daphne, have you been using my razor again?
Just a little. I was peeling peaches.
Oh, fine. Why didn't you change the blade? It feels like you've been sharpening pencils
with this thing.
Now, just a minute, buddy. It was you who said we could use more economy around here,
and I've been saving wherever I can. And by shaving the skin off the peaches...
But look at my face. Think how the Red Cross could have used all this blood.
It's your own fault, you and your economy.
Well, being penny-conscious isn't such a bad idea. Not if you use common sense. Take savings
bonds, for instance.
Uh-uh, here it comes.
Go right ahead and scoff, but I've got eight million Americans who agree with me. We all
buy savings bonds on a payroll saving plan, because we know that investing in bonds is
the best way to use our money.
We could use some of that money around here.
Well, maybe, or maybe we just think we can. When we buy bonds, we guarantee we'll have
the money in the future, when we'll certainly need it more.
Stop waving that razor. You're splattering me with soap.
Well, I don't mean to get excited, but who wouldn't? Where else can a man make an investment
that's guaranteed to pay off four dollars for every three, and guaranteed by the credit
of the whole U.S. of A? So there.
Bravo! Bravo!
All right, all right. Now let me change the blade and get back to shaving.
I think I'll stay and watch.
Why?
Because you're so cute when you cut yourself.
Oh, fine.
And now, starring Frank Lovejoy, Act Two of The Long Night.
You look at the clock, nine oh four. You look at the clock and mentally give yourself forty
five minutes. Forty five minutes to find him, bring him in, and get him on the ground. Your
mouth feels dry, you reach for a cigarette, and you do the next thing that must be done.
Mike.
Yeah.
ATC emergency.
Roger.
This is Rockford Tower. Emergency to all concerned. Emergency landing at Rockford Airport. All
aircraft below 8,000 feet within 20 miles of Rockford Radio Range leave courses immediately
and maintain radio service until...
Rockford Tower, Beechcraft, 91457.
Come in 457.
Okay, Rockford.
Tell me, are you familiar with range orientation?
No, I don't know anything about that either. I'm just a businessman with a new airplane.
I know only enough about the radio to tune in the station.
I know I'm lost though and need help. These gas tanks aren't getting any fuller.
Yes, yes, I know. Now, I'm going to try and fix on you and bring you in over the Rockford
Airport. I'll tell you what must be done, but you have got to do it. I can't fly the
airplane for you. Do you understand?
Yeah, okay, Rockford. I understand.
I want you to listen very closely to the rain signal. Put everything else out of your mind.
Listen and describe exactly what you hear.
Okay. Hello, Rockford. I hear a code sound. Is that the range?
That's right. Now, what does it sound like?
Well, it goes...
Okay, 457. Now, is it loud or soft?
It's pretty loud.
Okay, that's the N quadrant. Now, I want you to tune to the Madison, Wisconsin range and
tell me what you hear.
Okay, wait a minute. Yeah. Hello, Rockford. I've got the Madison range.
What does that read?
What's just like the other, only backwards. Dicta, dicta.
That's right.
I can hardly hear it, but it's there all right.
Okay, 457. Now, that's the A quadrant. Now, I want you to try Peoria and then Chicago.
Rockford, Madison, Peoria, Chicago. Four corners to check from. Four radio sounds that you
hope he's reading correctly. You finish the check and he comes through without a bauble.
You know you have him fixed. You know at least his direction from you. You take a deep breath
and for the first time, you feel a tiny flicker of hope that you're going to find your stranger
and get him in all right. But you're a long way from home. You light another cigarette
and you push the black microphone button hard. Now, listen carefully, 457. I'm going to run
a check procedure on you. I want you to take up a northeast heading. Turn your volume down
as low as you can and still receive the range signal. At the very moment you detect the
change in signal strength, either higher or lower, advise me.
All right, Rockford. I'll do my best. Hello, Rockford. My gauges indicate empty tanks.
There's some gas left. I know, but I have no idea how much. You know where I am.
I'm quite sure of your direction from me and I believe I know how far you are out within,
say, 20 miles. If what you've told me is correct, I estimate you have 30 minutes fuel remaining.
I believe your gauges are indicating normally. Now, try to concentrate on doing what I've
told you to do. Yeah. Okay, Rockford. I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful. I realize
you can't afford mistakes, but I can't last much longer. I'm not trying to hurry you,
but the gauges stay empty and my son is getting sick.
You didn't say anything about having any passengers aboard. How many are there?
Just my son and me. Is the air rough? Is there a turbulence?
No, the air is smooth. You said your son is getting sick.
Why, he's scared. That's what's making him sick. You see, he's only nine years old.
In a moment, we continue with the third act of suspense.
We have together ample capacity and freedom to defend freedom. This is NATO, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization. Soviet dominated nations are held together
only by political and military coercion. The strength and fiber of NATO lies in the fundamental
unity in the face of dangers which threaten. Thanks to this solid fundamental unity, NATO
nations can overcome difficulties and bring into harmony their individual points of view.
The United States of America is a part of NATO. You should be aware of and alert to
the objectives and programs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
And now, starring Frank Lovejoy, Act Three of The Long Night.
You don't say anything for a long minute. You just stare out into the miserable night
and your thoughts are not nice. You think of your own kid and you thank God
he's home safely in bed. And now you have an even stronger reason to
bring this stranger home. You reach for the microphone button.
Now listen carefully, 457. You should be approaching my west leg close
into the station. I want you to listen carefully and describe
any change in your signal. I won't call you. You call me when you hear anything change.
Okay, Rockford. Hello, Rockford. The signal is much louder now.
I'm getting more of a continuous tone in my earphones, although I can still hear that
other signal. All right, 457. That's fine. That's good.
Now listen carefully. When you hear nothing but a tone, when there's
nothing but a loud buzz in your ears, I want you to turn right to 93 degrees on your compass.
Do you understand me? Yeah, I understand. Turn right to 93 degrees
on the compass when I hear a loud tone. That is correct.
The tone is strong now. I don't hear the other signal, nothing but the tone, shall I?
Yes, yes. Turn right. Turn to 93 degrees and advise.
Advise? Advise when on course, when on 93 degrees
advise. Oh, Roger. Advise when on... Oh, I'm on course
now on 93. Good. You're approaching the range now almost
over the station. The range is about two miles from where I'm sitting.
The signal you hear will continue to increase in volume until you cross the range.
At that time, it will fade out quickly, and for a moment you may hear nothing.
Then it will increase again rapidly. Now at the very instant your signal fades, I
want you to make an immediate left turn to a heading of four, five degrees.
You take that heading and advise. Understand? I understand.
Mike. Yeah.
Get on the phone and alert the local police and fire departments. Tell them what we've
got. Roger.
Get all the lights on on the field and the runway markers.
We get them down through this, he won't have any time to spend looking for the field.
Yeah, will do. That is, if we get them down through it.
Robert, Robert, I'm over the range and starting a turn. It's just like you said. It's exactly
the way you said it would be. Roger, four, five, seven. You're doing fine.
Now come left to four, five, straighten level, hold it until I tell you different. I'll call
you back. I think you got him, Ken.
If he's where he ought to be, we'll hear him in about 20 seconds. I'm going out on the
platform and listen. Let me know if he calls in.
Okay. You stand on the steel grating of the tower
platform. You try to hear over the sounds from the field below. You strain your ears
for a sound that should come to you out of the southwest. You never want to hear anything
so much in your life. You hold your breath, you stop breathing, they hear better. And
then it's there, a single engine singing a quiet, sweet sound and approaching directly
on course. You flick your burning cigarette out into the black space and stumble back
into the tower room and grab the mic. Four, five, seven. This is Rockford. You're over
the field. I hear you clearly. Start a 360 immediately and orbit in your present area.
Beginning at 360. For God's sake, tell me what to do with this engine that's ready
to quit. Snap a look at the clock. It's 946. Five, maybe six minutes more if you're lucky.
Six minutes at the outside to get him lined up properly for a straight in approach to
talk him down through 4,000 feet of solid clouds. Six minutes to bring off a miracle.
You mash the microphone button hard and you try to sound calm. Four, five, seven. I hear
you plainly. You're circling the airport. Now there isn't time to talk this thing out.
You'll have to do exactly what I tell you to do the first time and do it right. There
simply isn't enough time. Wait a minute. Do you have any parachutes aboard?
No, no, sir.
All right. All right. We'll have to do it this way. Now listen to what I say. You don't
have to talk. You just listen. Now come around to a due west heading. Due west. As you do,
start slowing her down. Slow her down. Trim her up for a power approach. A normal power
approach. Do you understand?
I understand, Rob.
Don't talk. Don't talk. Just bring her around. Head west. Power on. Slow her down. Flaps
down. To approach position. Trim her up. Make her steady. Advise me when you're headed west
and slow down.
I'm trying to get her steady. I'm trying to do what you tell me.
All right. All right, four, five, seven. Don't talk. Advise when on course.
Rockford, I'm on 270 now. Slowing down. I don't know. I just don't know.
I know you don't know. All we can do is try.
I'm down to 80 now. Flaps down and power on.
Roger. Now, four, five, seven. You're going to bring her around very slowly and precisely
to an east heading. You're going to handle her very gently so she won't fall off on you
flying so slow. Do you hear me?
Yes, I hear you.
Let her continue to settle at 500 feet a minute. Just bring her around slowly to the east.
Recover and then take your hands off the controls.
She won't fly with my hands off the controls.
She will fly. She'll fly better than you can. Now listen to me. When you're eastbound, hands
off. She'll descend slowly into the clouds. After you're in those clouds, do not touch
the controls.
I don't think that I can.
Act, think, do as I tell you. Now when you get in the clouds, everything will change
for you. You'll think the airplane is all wrong, that it's doing everything it shouldn't
do. If you leave it alone, it'll start a slow spiral to the left, but I don't think it'll
be enough to do any harm until you've broken out under the ceiling. Now, whatever it does,
you'll think it's going to the right or up or down or even spinning, but it won't be
doing any of those things unless you make it do them. Now don't touch it. Are you eastbound?
I'm eastbound, yes.
Now take your hands off the controls.
But I...
Take your hands off now.
Okay. Hands are off.
Now just let her have it. Let her fly herself.
Ceiling's down to 600 feet, Kent.
Doesn't give him much time to recover and get his bearings when he breaks out, but it's
all we can do. It's all anybody can do.
You stand there waiting. You're only too aware of what can be happening in the cabin of Beechcraft
457, sweating out each second of the time with a terrified pilot and his deathly scared
kid. You wonder if this man, this stranger and yet no longer a stranger, can keep his
fantasies under control for the long letdown, the lonely long letdown through total darkness
with nothing but a great fear for a companion. A minute goes by, another, and then...
Rockford! Rockford, it's turning, Rockford! Turning, yes, be high, going higher!
Get off those controls, cut the throttle.
I've got the throttle closed, but she's slowing down fast. I can't see, I can't...
All right, she's going to stall. Give her the throttle slowly. Keep your hands off,
accept the throttle. She'll climb back out on top if you keep your hands off her. Two
minutes wasted. And now if the teacup of gas still in his tanks holds out, if he gets back
on top, you still have to do it all over again. You begin to feel the long night closing in
on you. He's almost calm when he calls you back this time. You can almost hear his sigh
of relief.
Hello, Rockford. I'm back on top now.
Good. Now let's try it with the power off this time.
No use, Rockford. It's just no use. I can't do it. I was fine until I got into those clouds.
I just couldn't sit there and do nothing. I just couldn't. I know I can't do it again.
Listen, there's time. There's time for another try.
Forget it. The engine just quit. That's it, Rockford.
You can still...
Forget it. You're wasting your time. I just want to say thanks for trying.
Hello, 457. Hello, Beach, 457.
He can't hear you, Ken. His hands froze to the mic.
Yeah. You better hit the crash button.
Roger.
Rockford Tower to all planes awaiting landing instructions. The emergency is over. Normal
radio procedure is now in effect. Rockford Tower, out.
This is United 512 at 12,000 feet, plane view range at 2151.
Suspense. In which Frank Lovejoy starred in William N. Robeson's production of The Long
Night, adapted by Sam Pearce from the story by Lowell D. Blanton. Supporting Frank Lovejoy
in The Long Night were Barney Phillips, Peter Leeds, Sam Pearce, and Eddie Firestone. Listen.
Listen again next week when we return with It's All in Your Mind, starring Barry Kroger,
a tale of telepathy and terror well calculated to keep you in suspense.
This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.