Untouchable Sets Six World Speed Records
January 12, 1961, when Hustler 59-2442, nicknamed Untouchable, set six world speed records round a 1,000 km closed circuit at Edwards AFB. Pictured here (from left to right) the crew: Captain William L. Polhemus: Navigator, Major Henry J. Deutschendorf, Sr.: Pilot, and Captain Raymond R. Wagener: DSO.
The following are the memoirs of Ray Wagener as published in the American Aviation Historical Society Journal, Spring 2011.
“Henry J. ‘Dutch’ Deutschendorf Jr. (singer John Denver’s father) was the pilot, William Polhemus the nav/bomb, and most bets were that this flight could not be completed.
The ballast required for the speed records was fuel carried in two tanks in the pod. The judges monitoring the flight had removed the fuses for the fuel pumps in the tanks, turned them around and placed them backwards in the panel. If we used this fuel we MIGHT get two speed records but no more. The fuel was available for use in an emergency.
We were at Mach 2, above 55,000 feet and about three minutes from the finish line when Dutch said: ‘The fuel pump lights in the forward and aft tanks are blinking on!’
I got out of my seat, sat on the floor, used my left hand to activate my intercom and said, ‘If you need the fuel in the pod, I have the fuses in my hand.’ Dutch wanted to know what I was doing and Polhemus replied, ‘that crazy airman is sitting on the floor in the aisle.’ That was the only way I could reach the fuse panel.
About two minutes out Dutch reported that the reserve tank was feeding. This tank was designed to feed the engines only when all the other tanks were dry. I felt the power go to ‘idle,’ saw the fuel flow drop to almost zero and we glided across the finish line at about 41,000 ft.
Dutch landed the aircraft in that condition and I never did feel the power come back up. While taxiing in I got back in my seat. After engine shut-down we sat there with our canopies closed just laughing and talking. It was over.”
The crew were each awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their achievement.
Convair B-58A Hustler in flight SN: 59-2442
author: Jerry Dan Deutschendorf