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Surviving A Thousand‑Foot Elevator Fall
- Betty Lou Oliver was the elevator operator on the 80th floor when a B-25 bomber struck the 79th floor and severed elevator cables.
- She survived a 1,000+ foot fall to the sub-basement, breaking her back and both legs, and later entered the Guinness Book of World Records.
Overconfidence In Combat Skills
- Captain William Franklin Smith ignored LaGuardia's warning and flew into dense fog over Manhattan despite near-zero visibility reports.
- His combat experience may have bred overconfidence that contributed to the fatal navigational error.
A Tape That Captured The Crash
- James E. Eager was dictating a letter when he recorded the bomber roaring down Fifth Avenue and then the dull thud of impact on his tape.
- The audio captured the sudden interruption and immediate sound of the crash, preserving a raw eyewitness record.