Portal de Aguilas
www.portaldeaguilas.com
City Eagles last night gave an emotional tribute to Bartholomew Roldan, former skipper "Dorita", the January 17, 1966 rescued two U.S. Army pilots, Captain Charles F.
Wendorf and Lt. Michael J.
Rooney, after the famous crash of Palomares.
The event, held in the Auditorium and Congress Palace "Princess Elena", was coordinated by José Asensio, teacher and lover Eagles history.
It involved: the local mayor, Bartolome Hernandez, Council Member for Culture and Heritage, Francisco Martinez, the Spanish Navy Admiral Jose Antonio Balbas and honoree himself, Bartholomew Roldan, who was very excited about the deference has had towards him.
The guests also included: the mayor of Cuevas del Almanzora, Jesus Caicedo, the Admiral and former Chief of Staff of the Navy, Sebastián Zaragoza and several councilors Eagles, Cuevas del Almanzora and Villaricos.
The most emotional moment came with the words expressed by the authorities and the delivery of a commemorative plaque Roldán offered Mayor and with the reading of a letter from Lieutenant Rooney, in which he expressed his gratitude to those who saved infinite his life, but the most striking was the video-conference held with Captain Wendorf, which recalled the events experienced those days.
During the event, and through a projection could also recall the events of 1966, narrating that "Dorothy" was out with four other sailors to fish at dawn.
About four in the morning, while traveling to the Isle of Terreros, up to Villaricos, while Menelaus networks, could be observed as two huge planes flying over the sky.
They made sure that one quickly refueled other and suddenly heard a noise that scared so the members of the boat that they were forced to take shelter inside, while pieces of the aircraft fell all around.
After the initial shock, they saw several parachute sorprendiéndoles see a lump falling fastened with four of these parachutes, knowing days later that it was a bomb.
The other three pilots had parachutes.
Two of them fell about two miles near the coast and the "Dorita".
The third, about four miles offshore, was saved by Francisco Simó Orts, "Paco the pump."
The sea was very choppy and waves prevented at times see the pilots.
Finally able to reach one of them, Captain Charles F.
Wendorf, who had a broken arm.
Gently put him in the boat and put dry clothes.
Meanwhile, they kept being anxious about the situation of another aviator, Lieutenant and airplane passenger, Michael J.
Rooney, who was also rescued with injuries.
Immediately alerted emergency services Eagles, awaiting them on arrival at the fishing port, about eleven o'clock.
The two Americans were taken to hospital and the Paco brought an hour later.
Both Francisco Simó like Bartolome Roldan received months after the paths Medals Lifeboat and a small amount of money, in the form of complaints received during the day that they could not go fishing.
On 7 April the same year appeared the bomb was dropped a few months earlier and was nicknamed Francisco "Paco the pump."
For many years, Bartolo has lived that event as an act of humanity, as an action that anyone would have done well, preventing those people died, thanks to the heroic gesture since that day his ship was only three hundred meters them.
Bartolo continued his life working and today, now retired, recalls his serenity with aplomb, and the avalanche of names of journalists and entertainments.
But that failed at any time to change your mood good man, helpful and careful with it has always been and known.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Águilas
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