Always Another Dawn
Reading edition
THE STORY OF A ROCKET TEST PILOT
by A. Scott Crossfield
with Clay Blair, Jr.
CLEVELAND AND NEW YORK
THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Published by The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio
Published simultaneously in Canada by Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 60-14641
FIRST EDITION
WP1060
Copyright ©1960 by A. Scott Crossfield and Clay Blair, Jr. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, except for brief passages included in a review appearing in a newspaper or magazine. Printed in the United States of America.
To Joseph, who knows why
Contents
(Illustrations will be found following pages 134 and 294.)
FOREWORD 15
A NOTE ON SPEED 16
1. “A Modern-Day Lindbergh” 19
2. The Gypsy Caravan 25
3. A Sense of Urgency 38
4. Excitement and Frustration 45
5. An Unusual Heritage 53
6. An Isolated Environment 62
7. “Take Her Up and Try a Spin” 72
8. Change and Challenge 82
9. Manhood and Maturity 89
10. No Penalty for Being Late 99
11. How Dark the Clouds 109
12. A Short Man with Santa Claus Eyebrows 119
13. “Barefoot Boy with Cheek” 125
14. The Need for Speed 135
15. Disaster on the Race Track 145
16. Bright Light Under a Bush 154
17. Light in the Open 162
18. “Fastest Man on Earth” 171
19. “Leaf in a Tempest” 180
20. “Please Come to a Complete Stop” 190
21. End of the Line 200
22. End of an Era 209
23. Secrets in the Cafeteria 217
24. Ullage and Capsules 226
25. Girdles, Brassieres, and Shattered Sinuses 234
26. The Agricultural Approach 244
27. A Tornado Named Stormy 246
28. Wilting Straws in Plaster of Paris 253
29. Eyes Toward Space 262
30. Muting the Cassandras 271
31. Working in a Fish Bowl 280
32. Time for Extraordinary Action 289
33. Circus Day 297
34. A Carnival at Dawn 307
35. Smoke in the Cockpit 317
36. The Reluctant Dragon 327
37. Engulfed in Disappointment 338
38. “She Blew Sky High” 346
39. The Old Pro 359
40. Bad News with the Good 367
41. “You Have a Fire!” 376
42. Minor Miracles 388
43. “The Real Significance” 399
44. “Prophecies of the Next Age” 407
CHRONOLOGY 411
INDEX 415