Word: gusted
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...Time, Gentlemen." From time to time a flurry of speculation ran through the watchers like autumn leaves in a gust. On Friday night there was a moment of letdown when Princess Elizabeth herself stepped out of the palace door and drove off with her husband in his Austin sedan. (They had a date to dine with Philip's cousin, Lady Brabourne, and practical Elizabeth saw no reason for breaking it.) By Sunday night 4,000 or more people in slouch hats, toppers, evening clothes, shawls and workmen's denim were clustered about the huge Victoria Memorial...
That left Claxton to do the honors, and he had an unhappy time. In mid-speech, a gust of wind ripped away the sheet that veiled the plaque, wrapped it around the master of ceremonies. After this diversion, Claxton ran afoul of a rain squall that sent most of his audience scurrying. He still had five minutes to go, and he went right on talking...
Getting the information was no airborne picnic. The planes that did the job were tough, night-fighting Black Widows. They "penetrated" 1,600 thunderclouds, often coming out with their noses deep-dented by hail. The worst gust encountered blew at 43 ft. per second (29 m.p.h.) almost directly upward. Said the pilot who flew through it: "The jolt was so severe I thought I had collided with another plane. I was unable to keep my hands on the controls, they banged around so much...
...chief pilot, Captain Charles R. Sisto, of Los Angeles. Captain Sisto was riding as a check pilot while another pilot, Captain John Beck, familiarized himself with the route. As the plane snored west at 8,000 feet, Sisto reached down from a jump seat behind Beck and fastened the gust lock-a device used to lock the rudder, elevator and ailerons while the plane is on the ground...
...plane began a steady climb. Puzzled, Pilot Beck adjusted trim tabs on the plane's control surfaces to bring the nose down. Then, still undetected, Sisto released the gust lock. The plane immediately went into an outside loop. Both Sisto and Beck, neither of whom had fastened his safety belt, were thrown from their seats. Two things saved the plane. Sisto struck buttons which feathered the prp-pellors of three engines. Copilot Melvin Logan, who was securely belted in, was able to roll the ship right side up, a bare 300 to 400 feet from the ground...