system

Scattering ashes over Long Island Sound reminds me of a story. When we picked up my father’s ashes, the funeral director warned that if we were going to scatter his ashes from a boat into Long Island Sound, to make sure to open the box and empty it completely.

We hadn’t planned on doing so, but I was curious as to why - was there a legal or moral reason behind the warning?

He said no, it’s just that when people get out on the boat, and it’s windy, they get worried about ashes swirling about and getting on the boat and mourners. So sometimes they decide to let the sealed box slide overboard as a solemn way to commit it to the depths.

Now, the box seems pretty heavy, and sinks straightaway. But it’s actually close to being neutrally buoyant. And the Sound has lots of tides and currents, and the box tends to tumble along the sear floor. After several years, it sometimes washes up on shore.

The part most people don’t realize is that, before a person is cremated, a metal coin with a coded serial number is attached to the body. This coin goes through the whole cremation process and ends up in the ashes, inside the box, ensuring the correct cremains go to the correct loved ones. So when the box shows up and is found, eventually the police find the coin and contact the appropriate funeral home.

And they have the unfortunate task of calling the family and telling them, “Your dad just showed up.”

system

A firecracker in a paper sack works well. Just be certain that you have a reliable fuse.

system

Scattering cremains make for hilariously funny moments. Dude did not want to leave the cabin. I’m not doing that anymore.

system

“The dust-to-dust dogma being a durable belief…” It isn’t just a belief, it’s an actual, physical fact. However I still enjoyed the piece, Paul. So do you have any thoughts or plans for your final disposition and will it involve a vacuum cleaner hose? As for me, I’d be happy if my family scatters my remains somewhere on a high place with a breathtaking view and perhaps an airplane flying by once in a while.

system

I offered to scatter my roommate’s dad’s ashes out of a friend’s Cub down the grass runway of a nearby airport. (He was a long-time grass strip and Cub aficionado, though when ht bought an airplane, it was a 150.) I rigged up a piece of PVC with a big funnel and a 45 degree elbow on the end, and held it out the side door with the elbow in the slip stream, below the level of the tailfeathers. Worked well enough, though it took several passes to get all of the ashes out. If there is a next time, I’ll use larger pipe.

system

I strongly recommend practicing with some fine grained kitty litter first. (Don’t ask why I know this).

In the end I use the paper bag method. Brown paper bag with a line taped securely to the side. Line secured in cockpit, dump bag out window, it comes up short - ripping the bag open. Line length to prevent interference with tailfeathers.

Add flour to mix if the relatives want to see a white “puff”. Otherwise cremains are a bit neutral toned and don’t show up well.

If scattering over water (especially Long Island Sound!) be aware of International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973, commonly known as Annex V of MARPOL (Marine Pollution) 73/78. Not sure it applies to aircraft as such. But cremains are of a size that by the convention they should be scattered 3+ miles offshore…

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system

Back in the 1980s a local lawyer friend of mine had a sideline called Aerial Burials that I did a few flights for.

After the usual initial disaster he came up with a piece of 3 inch PVC drain pipe with a hinged door with a latch on one end and a 3 x 1 1/2 inch reducer on the other that was removable. It had a couple of simple clamps that would attach it to the wing strut of whatever rental Cessna we were using and a string from the latch ran into the pilot side window. You’d just make sure the latch was closed, remove the reducer from the other end, pour in the ashes, replace the reducer and put a piece of duct tape over the small end, which was removed before takeoff. You’d get over whatever lake or golf course, open the window and pull the string to open the door and the airstream pressure would disburse the ashes.

He had a little trouble from the FAA after one his first drops over a golf course. One of the neighbors saw him go over and picked some larger bone parts off the hood of his Cadillac and went off to see the FAA with a baggy. After that he had the crematorium grind the ashes twice. The FAA maintained that he needed a commercial license and a 135 certificate and he maintained that it was more like crop dusting. He offered to call them the next time he did a drop and have them violate him. They never took him up on the offer.

system

Same principle applies to ping pong balls. No disrespect intended. In a small NE Texas town in the late 60s, I, and my CFI, distributed those ping pong balls, with a few stamped with business names, along Main St. for the local Chamber of Commerce. The aircraft was a C-150. When the a/c window was opened and the carefully made hatch slid forward the balls made a really cool clatter, but few dropped. On the second pass, IIRC, I pulled the whole bottom of the box open with great success. The string of balls whirled in the slipstream a moment then all fell to the street.
Yes, we got a waiver from the FAA to fly at 500 feet!

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system

Almost forgot, The pilot was a pre-med student and I Journalism. We knew nothing of the aforesaid principle of carburation despite our, we thought, vast knowledge of everything.

system

I used to work for a Beechcraft dealer in NY. One time an owner came in and asked to use our shop vac to clean out his plane after a ash drop failure of his friend Irving. From that day on, the vacuum was called Irving.

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system

GREAT idea … we could dump the ashes AND enjoy a flour bombing contest simultaneously.

I HAD to say that

system

If BB King can have a guitar named Lucille, a vacuum cleaner named Irving isn’t too far a stretch. And – oh by the way – I take my vehicles to a facility across the street from a crematorium. They guys there say they can always tell when they’re “burning one.” Ash settles on the cars. NOT for me.

system

Hello Paul,

This is Mark Pederson from Homeward Bound Aerial Services (Ashscattering.org). My wife and I loved your blog. We would very much like to continue this dialog and have many wonderful stories on the subject.

Well done!

Mark & Jane Pederson
Homeward Bound Aerial Services

system

Dumping ashes out the window like a used cigarette?
Somewhere an Indian on the side of the road is weeping.

system

Dumping ashes out the window like a used cigarette?
Somewhere an Indian on the side of the road is weeping.’

Sadly, emotional attachment and superstitions still rule the societal day, giving a false sense of freedom and chutzpah to make something entirely personal into a public use/abuse event.

True freedom demonstrates a much broader sense of personal responsibility.

system

When one of the members of our skydiving community passed away, some of us built a contraption out of ABS pipe and fittings - complete with gate valves - and fastened it to the strut of a plane. It worked a treat for spreading his ashes. (I was flying the photo plane in formation.)

The trick - whatever you’re dropping - is to get it well outside the aircraft before letting it go. One of the jumpers I flew with a smoke generator attached to his leg didn’t get his leg far enough out the door before setting it off, and the entire cabin filled up with smoke - which fortunately dissipated quickly once he left.

system

Recalling a less-than-ideal experience air droppin my brother’s ashes over the airport that he’d fondly referred to as Littleton International in Colorado in 1977, I designed and built a device specifically for the task, when it came time to scattering my dad’s ashes over Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky in 1995. I saved the device in a box in my attic. I was in a bit of a haze at the time, having just lost my dad, and so as I read this article, I realized that I couldn’t remember exactly how the device worked, or even that much about what it looked like, but I did remember that it worked perfectly. So I’ve just made a trip to my attic and found the box containing the device and it’s triggered a lot of memories, some sad, some happy, and a bit of pride. At the risk of sounding immodest, I’m duly impressed that I was able to design and build this thing as well as I did. Dad would have been proud. If there were a market for it, I’d try to patent it. It’s a bit over 4ft long. The top section (ash chamber) is about 16in long and made of 3.5in pvc. It transitions to 2.5in pvc for about 27in of ejector tube. The top of the ash chamber has a domed pvc cap (unsecured for filling) with an approx. 5/8in hole drilled in the center through which a long, not quite snug fit 1/2in pvc tube runs all the way to the bottom of the ejector tube, where it passes through and is secured to another smaller domed cap which fits a little more snuggly (domed side in) INSIDE the end of the 2.5in pvc pipe. The 1/2in pvc and smaller domed cap act as a plunger. The plan was to remove the large dome, fill the ash chamber and cap it before take off. I had drilled a hole through the 1/2in pvc at the top (exterior) of the ash chamber’s dome and pinned it with a finishing nail (rather inelegant) to keep the plunger from accidentally opening prematurely. When I reached the drop zone, I extended the ejector tube out the window and removed the safety pin. I pushed the plunger to open the ejector end and the ashes were sucked out the end and away from the plane. Bon voyage, Pops!

cutlermaine

Paul: Thank you for re-telling the story and for the film review. Like you, I hope it does well at the box office and my son (14 years old and fascinated with US military history) and I look forward to seeing it ourselves. Do you have any sort of an update on your airplane and hangar (and the airport in general) at Venice?

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bob9

Paul, your essays are priceless and always worth reading more than once. You are a craftsman with words and your humanity is evident from your insights. Thank you.

skuemmerle

Paul - remarkable insights. Thanks

mruthven

A very good Youtube version of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuo1sia2-EI

cdrjlw1

Mr. Bertorelli,

I concur!

J_Earnie

After a few sentences, I thought that there is no way that Paul read the book. Go read the book.

Spoilers-

The movie told the core story fairly well, but left out massively important nuances. Hudner was not authorized to make his landing to attempt to rescue Jesse behind enemy lines. In fact, it was prohibited, so he disobeyed orders to do so. On his long journey back to the ship, he was depressed by the loss of his friend, and also by knowing that he’d be court martialed for his disobedience, especially because it was futile.

The ship took a donation for Jesse’s family, raising over $25000 in today’s dollars for the education of his daughter. Tom Hudner also received a cash award from his home town after receiving the MOH, which he promptly donated to Daisy for her education. Daisy got her degree and became a school teacher.

Jesse didn’t disobey orders to attack a bridge. Especially not with rockets.

They didn’t shoot down a Mig.

The carrier landing scenes were worse than the first Topgun movie. All straight ins, ridiculously low or high. There is no reason for it, but Hollywood just can’t help themselves in gross exaggeration of carrier approaches, which need no such embellishment in order to enhance drama. They are dramatic enough in real life.

The F8F and the F4U use the same engine. The latter had about a hundred more horsepower on a much larger and heavier airframe.

Pilots standing on the flight deck watching landings next to the island? Not a chance in hell. Takeoffs past parked airplanes? Nope. Lack of ground crew throughout the flick? Maddening. The Squadron seemingly had about twelve pilots. All JO’s without an XO, Ops O, etc.

The biggest omission was that Jesse Brown was a Christian who read his Bible every day. He knew who he was, and was a confident, skilled Naval Aviator who loved flying. He didn’t get his motivation by a book of nasty epithets as in the movie, he got it from knowing that his value came from above, not from the flawed opinions of lesser men.

Amazing story, long known by Naval Aviators and passed down and enshrined by VF32. I’m glad it will bring some much needed attention to a couple of great men who long ago paved the way to ending bigotry, but anyone who wants to know the true story with nuance and depth would be well served to read the book.

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dadto8kids

My father, Capt. Walter F. Madden, USN (RET) was CAG (Commander Air Group) of Air Group 3 on board the USS Leyte when this incident occurred. Like most combat veterans he talked very little about the Korean War (or WWII in which he also fought) but he did tell me this story. One point he made was that initially there was a dispute over whether to court martial Lt. Hudner or honor him as his actions were in direct violation of standing orders. Also, Lt. Hudner and the helo pilot discussed trying to free Lieutenant Brown by amputating his trapped leg but could not get access because of the confines of the cockpit made worse by the crash damage which buckled the nose of the F4U up. The only things that that had to use if they had attempted the amputation were a survival knife and a crash hatchet.

When the USS Leyte returned to San Diego my father was assigned to USN Air Station Quonset Point Post. On the family move across the country we stopped and he visited with the relatives of each of the pilots that had been killed in his Air Group. I remember visiting Lt. Brown’s wife (Daisy). She lived in a simple wooden house at the end of a red clay dirt road in Alabama or Georgia. My sister and I were told to stay outside while my father and mother talked with Mrs. Brown. As an almost six year old my principle memories were the sadness of the visit and the yellow honeysuckle that grew up the side of the porch of the house.

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skyvisions

Come on, you guys, this is exciting for an awesome story to hit mainstream in theaters, but please put a warning of spoilers. I can’t wait to see it and get the book. BTW, today, Cyber Monday, Barnes & Noble has a discount on total purchase…today only. The newer owner is not as regular with coupons as in the past. So if you shop there, might be a good time to order the book “Devotion”. God bless all our veterans. And thank you to those in “comments” who added personal history. Looking forward. Thanks, Paul!

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skyvisions

I know only one comment above had details, and did warn of spoilers, but hoping future comments keep in mind those who have not yet seen the film or read the book.

Jim_Kabrajee

Thanks for sharing that “first-hand” insight. It adds even more insight to the story.

gregc02

Since there doesn’t seem to be a way to email Paul I’ll say it here…

The stall strip on the Corsair is on the RIGHT wing.

Good review but as others have said, read the book!

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jimbarber2125

As the brother of a 20 yr old aircrew member lost from Yorktown Mar, 1968 at the coast of Viet Nam, I had no choice but to watch this movie. Thought it was very good, and now I’ll have to read the book. Appreciate the comments here.
Recommend “They Were Our Fathers”, PBS documentary by the pilot’s daughter, available on YouTube.
S2-E Tracker pilot was VS-23 Cdr. Hubbs; brother Thomas D. Barber and other crew Benson and Nightingale.
Jill Hubbs went to Viet Nam, looking for leads, and in Hanoi in 1993 found a grave registration with Cdr. Hubbs name.
War is hell.

Jeff_K

I totally agree with you on the book Jack. Having a wife who is the director of a public library, I try to refrain from using the old trope “the book was sooooo much better than the movie”. This very wife brought “Devotion” home for me to read, and I simply could not put it down. In my opinion, the movie provided the visuals (that MOST audiences want to see), while the book provides the heart and soul (and COMPLETE story). I do wish however we got Hudner buzzing a golf course in the movie.

And Paul, Ward Carroll had a great premier interview with the cast and crew, and I THINK I recall it being said that 6 Corsairs were used of the 12(?) that are flying worldwide.

bserra

Totally agree with You, Mr. Jack E. Sometimes, before writing (knowing that a lot of folks will reading it), one should read.

Jim_F

The Bridges at Toko-Ri, not Toki-Ri.

rekabr52

My Dad was at Chosin with 7th ID and Brown and Hudner were among many, many who kept the Red Chinese far enough away so the Army units and 1st Marine Division could reach Hungnam and rescue. Watching this film was emotional for me because Pop survived in '50 so I could come along in '52. RIP to both pilots and their families.

Richard_G

Don’t want to read the spoilers have a private screening of it this weekend.

newtexan

Excellent movie. Yes there are a few discrepancies but overall the story is intact. I have the audio version which I have listened to about 5 times now since it came out and know it well from this. What they left out doesn’t take away from the story, but would have added extra context of Hudner’s bravery.
A good write up Paul, but please read the book.

avconsumer

My hangar is back in pretty much normal service. No significant damage. The rest of the airport is cleaned up, but one hangar block was completely destroyed, several others damaged. And at least a dozen, i think, are without doors.

avconsumer

Got it.

rick.freeman100

I read the article and I can only find a reference to a nasty left stall. I could not find where the author said the stall strip was on the left wing. As someone who is interested in aerodynamics, I would naturally think a plane with a left stall should be corrected by making the right wing stall sooner with stall strip on the right wing. The idea is to make the plane stall flat if it has to stall at all. If I missed it, I apologize.

Raf

“Guys would do anything to help one another.” “The music may be different but it’s all the same story.” Thomas Hudner

Salute!

Good account Paul.

Raf

Thank you for sharing.

Will_Alibrandi

I hope they did a better job than the movie Midway with the flying sequences. That movie was absolutely ridiculous.

Raf

December 5, 1950. RIP Ensign Jesse.