The Sunken Goose

Joe Dovala · Issue 53, Mar/Apr 2010 · pp. 61–63

Products mentioned: Nikon D700, Aquatica Housing, Sigma 15mm FE, Ikelite DS-125 strobes

The Sunken Goose By Joseph C. Dovala The sun was still high in the California sky as the Grumman Goose Flying Boat revved up for take-off. Onboard were four men, three passengers and the pilot, heading back to the mainland from Avalon, Catalina Island, on September 17, 1979. Conditions were calm, but as the old workhorse reached take-off speed, something gave way and they lost all power. The plane quickly turned upside down and plunged heavily back into the cold Pacific. The Goose nearly broke in two, yet amazingly, no one died initially from the impact. In a matter of seconds, Larry Gilman, a 27 year old construction worker, pulled his 52 year old father O. T. Gilman from the tangled wreckage. Larry then went back in to yank out the unconscious pilot, Vern McGee, 54, from what was left of the cockpit. Larry then went in a third time to locate the last man in the snarled passenger compar…