Bobbie R. Allen
Bobbie R. Allen | |
|---|---|
 Allen in 1964 | |
| Director, Bureau of Safety Civil Aeronautics Board | |
| In office October 1, 1964 – April 1, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Leon H. Tanguay |
| Succeeded by | Bobbie R. Allen (NTSB) |
| Director, Bureau of Aviation Safety National Transportation Safety Board | |
| In office April 1, 1967 – June 15, 1968 | |
| Preceded by | Bobbie R. Allen (CAB) |
| Succeeded by | Robert Froman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bobbie Ray Allen July 26, 1922 Winnsboro, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | November 17, 1972 (aged 50) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Spouse | Arlene Evelyn Allen |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Government Official, Air Safety Investigator and Naval Aviator |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | U.S. Naval Aviator
 |
| Years of service | 1943–1968 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War II, Korean War, Berlin Crisis |
Bobbie R. Allen (July 26, 1922 – November 17, 1972) was a U.S. Government Official, Air Safety Investigator and Naval Aviator.[1] After four years as Director of the Bureau of Aviation Safety at the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the NTSB, the airlines of the world had the best safety record in their history and United States scheduled carriers had their best safety record since 1954.[2]
Charles S. Murphy, adviser to three U.S. Presidents and Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, nominated Allen for the Rockefeller Public Service Award and wrote the following:
"His outstanding work has contributed significantly to the constantly improving safety record throughout the world."..."Devoted to duty, able to inspire, …Mr. Allen is a credit to the Bureau, the Board, the Federal Service, and the Nation."[3]
| Organization | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Civil Aeronautics Board | Air Safety Investigator |
| 1962 | Civil Aeronautics Board | Supervisory Air Safety Investigator |
| 1963 | Civil Aeronautics Board | Deputy Director, Bureau of Safety |
| 1963 | National Aircraft Accident Investigation School | Chairman of the Board |
| 1963 | Guggenheim Foundation | Member, Technical Committee |
| 1964 | Society of Air Safety Investigators | Board of Directors & Charter Member |
| 1964 | Civil Aeronautics Board | Director, Bureau of Safety |
| 1965 | International Civil Aviation Org | Head U.S. Delegation, Accident Investigation Division, Montreal Canada |
| 1967 | National Transportation Safety Board | Director, Bureau of Aviation Safety |
| 1968 | National Transportation Safety Board | Special Assistant to the Director |
| 1942-46 | VF-52(N) | Night Fighter Pilot, WWII |
| 1952-53 | VC-4 DET44(N) | Night Fighter Pilot - XO, Korean War |
| 1954-59 | USNR Active | Aviation Safety Officer, NAS Akron, NAS Ellington, NAS Glenview |
| 1961-62 | VS-721 | Commanding Officer, Berlin Crisis |
| 1964 | USNR | 15th Annual Global Strategy Discussions, U.S. Naval War College |
| 1968 | USNR | Retired, Captain |
Career
Allen joined the Civil Aeronautics Board in May 1959 as an Air Safety Investigator. He was subsequently promoted to Chief of the Chicago office and later named Deputy Director in Washington, D.C. He was then named Director of the Bureau of Safety on October 1, 1964, and remained Director when the National Transportation Safety Board was formed in 1967. He continued until health-related retirement on June 15, 1968, when he stepped down to become Special Assistant to the Director focusing on accident prevention until July 31, 1970, when he would fully retire.[2]
As chairman of the U.S. delegation at the ICAO third accident investigation division meeting at Montreal in Jan. 1965, Allen was responsible for developing the U.S. proposals which laid the foundation for accident investigations throughout the world. The U.S. formally adopted the proposals at the White House on Dec 1, 1965.[2][3] [4]
Allen traveled extensively throughout South America, Asia, and Europe emphasizing the importance of accident investigation and stressing the need for professionally trained investigators.[5] His organization provided investigative assistance and on-the-scene expertise to numerous countries around the world. In 1966, he traveled to the Soviet Union, for bilateral discussions between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. to initiate air service between the two countries.[2][6][7]
As the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Aircraft Accident Investigation School at Oklahoma City, Allen was instrumental in organizing the school where students and investigators from around the world would attend.[2][3][8] Allen and his teams authored "The Potential Role of Flight Recorders in Aircraft Accident Investigation" and a design study titled "Aircraft Design-Induced Pilot Error", both of which were broadly used by the aviation community.[9][10]
Allen was instrumental in establishing the "Go Team" for catastrophic accident investigations. This "Team Concept" is still used today by the NTSB as well as numerous other nations of the world. [11][12] In 1967, Allen was a member of the task force which planned the orgaization and staffing of the Department of Transportation.[13]
Aviation Safety Reporting System, Early History
In 1966 - twelve years before ASRS was launched, Bobbie R. Allen, Director of the Bureau of Aviation Safety, was advocating the use of computers and the concept of non-punitive incident reporting.[14][15] In a Nov 1966 speech at a Flight Safety Foundation seminar in Madrid, Allen stated:
“We must find a way of moving this raw material for accident prevention to the processing machine.” He further stated: "What is it, then, that stands in the way of communicating this incident information to the appropriate governmental agency for processing? Repeatedly, when this question is asked, one hears the reply-FEAR: fear of litigation; fear of regulation; fear of punitive action."[14]
At a 1968 SMU speech in Dallas Texas, Allen again spoke of using computers for accident prevention:
"We intend to exploit its memory and data retrieval capabilities to the maximum extent possible, not only in after-the-fact learning from past history but in safety projections for the future." In closing, he said: "We in the Board are endeavoring to define and apply the lessons learned from accident investigations and special safety studies using to the extent possible electronic computers to identify those subtle and elusive common denominators in accident causation. In this increasingly important task, we welcome the on-going cooperative efforts of all concerned in the aviation community."[16]
By mid 1968, due to declining health, Allen had stepped down as Director, but continued efforts to overcome the industry’s reluctance to participate. In his role as Special Assistant to the Director, he dedicated much of his time promoting the project. He traveled extensively, wrote documents, gave speeches, and communicated with industry leaders. However, on a December 3, 1969, internal ATA meeting, AIRInc (Aeronautical Radio Incorporated) reported to the membership that a majority of the airlines surveyed, had chosen not to participate in the program. After receiving this news, Allen would share the results with NTSB leadership and although they thought there would soon be acceptance, implementation would be stalled for years.[17][18]
In December 1974, two years after Allen's death at age 50, TWA Flight 514 would crash into a Virginia mountaintop. After investigators learned that similar circumstances had occurred on a United Airlines flight just six weeks earlier a scramble ensued to overcome the public's outcry and in May 1975, the FAA announced the inauguration of a confidential, non-punitive incident reporting scheme. In January 1978, final design review of the system would begin, and the system would be called the Aviation Safety Reporting System.[15][19]
Allen's work in the mid to late 1960's, laid the groundwork for NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System, yet due to his untimely death, most people in the aviation community know little about his contributions.[17] The concepts he envisioned and promoted, which are in use today are the very basis and foundation of the Aviation Safety Reporting System.[15][20][21][22][23]
Naval Aviator (1943-1968)
Allen served during WWII in the Pacific theater. He was assigned to Night Fighter Squadron VF-52(N) (Night Mares) flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat from the USS Roi (CVE-103), USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Corregidor (CVE-58), USS Tripoli (CVE-64), USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). The war was ending when Allen deployed, and little action was seen.
-52_Night_Mares.jpg){kind=link}
In late 1952, Allen was recalled to Active Duty for the Korean War. He was Executive Officer of Night Fighter Squadron VC-4 DET44(N) (the Nightcappers) flying the Douglas F3D Skyknight.
_Nightcappers.png){kind=link}
On March 4, 1953, 100 miles off the coast of Virginia, the "Nightcappers" were training on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42). On Allen's last of five launches for the day, the ships catapult bridal failed, and his plane rolled forward, too fast to stop, and too slow to fly. He had no choice but to ditch the aircraft.[24] Within seconds, the carrier, cruising at 30 knots, cut the plane in half, just forward of the empennage. Allen climbed out and was hoisted aboard a rescue helicopter, surviving the incident.
Several weeks later, the squadron boarded the USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39) and sailed to Korea where they joined Marine Squadron VMF-513 at K-6 Airbase in Pyeongtaek South Korea providing bomber escort and night combat air patrol over North Korea until late 1953.[25][26] After returning to the states, Allen would remain on active duty until 1959, when he accepted an Aircraft Accident Investigation position with the Civil Aeronautics Board.
During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, Allen was recalled to active duty, and served as Commanding Officer of VS-721(Eagle Scouts). Based at NAS Whidbey Island Washington, the squadron operated S2F Trackers patrolling waters off the Pacific Northwest coast, searching for Soviet submarines using airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare techniques until August 1962.[27]
From 1963 to 1966, Allen was Aviation Safety Officer of AWS-66 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. In 1963, he participated in "Global Strategy Discussions" at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and on March 4, 1966, he was promoted to Captain.[28]
| All Weather Pilot, Carrier Qualified Day / Night, Single Engine Propeller, Multi Engine-Jet |
| Patrol Plane Commander, Multi-engine Propeller |
| Special Instrument Rating |
| Instrument Check Pilot, Single and Multi-engine, Propeller and Jet |
| Tactics Flt Instructor, Single and Multi-Engine-Propeller, Single Engine Seaplane-Propeller, Multi Engine-Jet |
| Maintenance Officer (Airframes) |
| Operations Officer |
| Aviation Technical Training Officer |
| Type Training Officer |
| Aviation Safety Officer |
| Command at Sea |
| Location | Type | Course | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Marshall, TX | Civilian | High School, Graduated 1942 |
| 1942-43 | Kilgore, TX | Civilian | Kilgore Jr. College, Navy V-5 Program |
| 1943 | Moraga, CA | Civilian | St. Mary's College, Navy V-5 Program |
| 1944 | Pensacola, FL | Military | U.S. Navy Flight Training, Commissioned Ensign, Designated Naval Aviator |
| 1944 | Vero Beach, FL | Military | Operational Flight Training, Night Fighter-Carrier |
| 1944 | Quanset Pt, RI | Military | Night Attack/Combat Flight Training, Night Fighter-Carrier (NACTU-lant) |
| 1946 | Pensacola, FL | Military | Operational Flight Training, Seaplane Scout/Observation-Cruiser/Battleship |
| 1948 | Wichita, KS | Civilian | University of Kansas, Wichita Extension, Kansas Fire School |
| 1952 | Key West, FL | Military | Navy All Weather Flight School |
| 1955-56 | Akron, OH | Civilian | Night School Student |
| 1957 | Los Angeles, CA | Civilian | Aviation Safety School |
| 1959 | Los Alamitos, CA | Military | Naval Air Electronics Training |
| 1964 | Newport, RI | Military | Senior Reserve Officer's Course, Naval War College |
Early life
Bobbie Ray Allen was born on July 26, 1922 in Winnsboro, Texas. His father, Buddy Bura Allen (August 15, 1900 – November 7, 1978) was a deaf-mute, and was one of twelve children born to Joe and Dollie Allen, who farmed cotton near the town of Winnsboro, Texas. Allen's mother, Edna Lorena Brown (March 6, 1903 - June 27, 1943), was one of five children, born to Walter Shook Brown and Hattie Belle Henderson, both of East Texas communities near Winnsboro.
Allen's father was an oil field laborer and shoe cobbler and his mother was a waitress at a small restaurant near their home in Marshall, Texas. When Allen was eight years old, his 22-month-old baby brother Edgar, died from unknown reasons and the family was grief stricken. Soon thereafter, his parents would divorce, and his father would move to Caldwell, Kansas, where he would marry and have two more sons, William G. and Edward D.
Allen attended public school in Marshall, Texas and during his high school years, he worked part time to help his mother make ends meet. She continued working as a waitress and would eventually marry a locomotive carpenter and widower named Thomas Gammill. In June 1942, Allen was working part time at the Logan and Whaley Hardware Store when he graduated from Marshall High School. In October of that year, he entered the Navy's V-5 program, and while in training, his mother would die from cancer at the age of 40.
Personal life
Ensign Bobbie R. Allen and Lt(jg) Arlene E. (Allen) Allen, a Nurse in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps from Akron, Ohio, were married on November 18, 1944 at Vero Beach, Florida. Both of the Allen's were stationed at NAS Pensacola when they happened to meet because of a mail delivery mix-up. After resolving the errant mail issue, the two began dating and within several months, decided to marry. As required by Naval regulation, Mrs. Allen resigned her commission and returned to her home in Akron Ohio where she would wait for Ensign Allen to complete fighter training. During their marriage, they raised five children: Sandra L. (1945), John M. (1947), William D. (1949) Robert P. (1955), and Patricia L. (1956).
_Arlene_E._Allen.jpg){kind=link}
References
- ^ a b Marqui's, A.N. (1968). Who's Who in America. Chicago, Illinois: A.N. Marquis Company. p. 64.
- ^ a b c d e "Retirement Notice:Bobbie R. Allen" (PDF). 29 April 1968.
- ^ a b c {{Letters from Charles S. Murphy |title = Nomination of Bobbie R. Allen for Rockefeller Foundation Public Service Award |journal = Bobbie R. Allen Civil Service Records |date = 1967 |pages=5| date=April 1967 | Rockefeller Nomination
- ^ National Citizens Commission on International Cooperation
- ^ |Travel documents, Bobbie R. Allen
- ^ "AIAA Paper Intl Cooperation on Accident Investigations Nov 1965.pdf". Google Docs.
- ^ USSR Civil Air Service to the Free World
- ^ "Natl Aircraft Accident Investigation School Photos.pdf". Google Docs.
- ^ Potential Role of Flight Recorders
- ^ "Aircraft Design-Induced Pilot Error" (PDF). erau.edu. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Allen, Bobbie R. (1964). "Address to 10th ALPA Safety Forum". B.R. Allen CAB Documents: 8. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Allen, Bobbie R. (1967). "Congressional testimony of Bobbie R. Allen on Apollo 1 tragedy" (PDF). wikipedia.org. p. 14. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Letter from Charles S. Murphy, National Archives, Harry S. Truman Library, Received: 1/10/2024
- ^ a b Orlady, Harry W. (1999). Human Factors in Multi Crew Flight Operations. Ashgate. p. 397. ISBN 978-1-351-56344-4. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Reynard, W.D.; Billings, C.E. (1986). The Development of the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (Publication 1114 ed.). Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, CA: NASA Reference Publication. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ Allen, Bobbie R. (1968). "B.R. Allen, National Transportation Safety Board Bureau of Aviation Safety". Journal of Air Law and Commerce. 34 (3): 11. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ a b Allen, Bobbie R. (1969). "Aggregation of Travel Doc's, Letters, Papers & Speeches on Information Data Exchange Program". B.R. Allen NTSB Documents: 59. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Allen, Bobbie R. (1969). "Report to the Director, NTSB/ATA Information Exchange Program". B.R. Allen NTSB Documents: 4. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ NASA (2024). "ASRS Program Briefing" (PDF). Asrs.arc.nasa.gov: 55. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ FAA (2017). "SUBJ: Voluntary Safety Reporting Programs" (PDF). Asrs.arc.nasa.gov: 27. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Stahl, Scott (4 February 2017). "NASA's ASRS". aerocrewnews.com. Aero Crew News. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Zimmerman, Dan (21 August 2015). "What the Aviation Safety Action Program Taught Me about Mental Health and Guns". thetruthaboutguns.com. The Truth About Guns. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Christensen, Henning. "Director, Civil Aviation Administration, Denmark" (PDF). www,ucai,int/Meetings/AMC/MA/2007. International Civil Aviation Organization. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Cold Cat Shot Photos.PDF".
- ^ "Action Report, Carrier Air Group Four" (PDF). U.S. Naval Records, Declassified: 28. July 27, 1953. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ O'Rourke, G.G. (January 1, 1998). Night Fighters Over Korea (2nd ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557506531.
- ^ Photographs and documents related to VS-721 deployment during the Berlin Crisis of 1961
- ^ "Appointment to Captain.PDF".
