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 22, 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 Reserve |
| Years of service | 1942–1968 |
| 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] Under Allen's leadership, the Bureau of Aviation Safety received recognition, both nationally and internationally, for contributions in accident investigation and improving the overall safety record of commercial aviation.[2][3][4]
Career
Positions and Leadership
Allen joined the Civil Aeronautics Board in May of 1959 as an Air Safety Investigator. He was subsequently promoted to Chief of the Chicago field office and later named Deputy Director of the Bureau in Washington, D.C. He was named Director of the Bureau of Safety of the Civil Aeronautics Board on October 1, 1964, and he remained Director when the Bureau was succeeded by the National Transportation Safety Board on its inception April 1, 1967, and he continued in the position until health-related retirement on June 15, 1968. Subsequent to stepping down as Director, Mr. Allen continued with the Bureau in the position of Special Assistant to the Director focusing on selected projects related to accident prevention until July 31, 1970, when he would fully retire.[2]
Allen's ability to communicate effectively with the PRESS and Government officials helped keep important aviation safety information available to the public and Congress.[5][6][7][8][9] After public concern was raised due to a series of Boeing 727 accidents, Allen was the featured speaker on a one-hour Public Television documentary titled "What Happened Up There?".[10]
| 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 Invest. Div., Montreal Canada |
| 1967 | National Transportation Safety Board | Director, Bureau of Aviation Safety |
| 1968 | National Transportation Safety Board | Special Assistant to the Director |
| 1942-46 | USNR Active | Naval Aviator WWII Pacific Theatre |
| 1952-53 | USNR Active | Executive Officer, VC-4 DET44(N), Korean War |
| 1954-59 | USNR Active | Aviation Safety Officer, NAS Akron, NAS Ellington, NAS Glenview |
| 1961-62 | USNR Active | Commanding Officer, VS-721, NAS Whidbey Island, WA |
| 1964 | USNR | 15th Annual Global Strategy Discussions, U.S. Naval War College |
| 1968 | USNR | Retired, Captain |
Internationally
As Chairman of the U.S. delegation, Allen was responsible for developing the United States' position on accident investigations at the ICAO third accident investigation division meeting at Montreal in Jan. 1965. The standards, procedures and practices adopted at that meeting, laid the foundation for accident investigation in air transportation throughout the world and the U.S. formally adopted those proposals at the White House on Dec 1, 1965.[2][3] [11]
Allen’s interest in helping other countries and organizations in his field emphasized for them, the importance of investigation and the need for professionally trained investigators. In pursuit of this, he traveled extensively throughout countries in South America, Asia, and Europe.[3][12][13]
His organization provided assistance in flight recorder readouts, flight tests, engineering tests and on-the-scene investigations were given to Brazil, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, Bolivia, Canada, Egypt, France, India and South Vietnam. 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][14][15]
Specific Contributions
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 and establishing the training curriculum where students and investigators from around the world would attend.[2][3][16] In 1966 Allen and his team authored "The Potential Role of Flight Recorders in Aircraft Accident Investigation" and presented it at the AIAA meeting in Toronto, Canada.[17] Allen was a member of the task force which planned the organization and staffing of the newly created Department of Transportation in April 1967. In July of 1967, the Bureau, under Allen's direction, released an important study titled "Aircraft Design-Induced Pilot Error", which would be shared with manufacturers throughout the world.[18]
Summary of Achievement
Allen was instrumental in developing the "Team Concept" for aircraft accident investigation. The method was discussed by him during the congressional hearings for the Apollo incident in 1967[5] and was also explained during the 10th ALPA Safety Forum, in 1964 soon after its implementation.[19] The impact of Allen’s work was clearly expressed by the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board: “The industry, the congress, the press and public often voiced confidence in the Bureau’s accomplishments. Its outstanding work contributed significantly to the constantly improving safety record throughout the world. During 1966, 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.”[3] Allen's contributions to aviation safety were also acknowledged in a letter from the Guggenheim Foundation.[4][20]
A Rockefeller Public Service Award nominee, Charles S. Murphy, Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, spoke of Allen: "Devoted to duty, able to inspire, …Mr. Allen is a credit to the Bureau, the Board, the Federal Service, and the Nation". Senator Mike Monroney of Oklahoma spoke of Allen's organization by saying: "The CAB Bureau of Safety has inspired the confidence of the American air traveler and won the respect of aviation authorities throughout the world" and Senator Warren Magnuson of Washington said the following: "The CAB has done a magnificent and outstanding job in this field. Its investigatory team is, without question, the most expert and dedicated in the world."[3]
Aviation Safety Reporting System, Early History
In 1966 - twelve years before ASRS was launched, Allen was advocating the use of computers and the concept of non-punitive incident reporting.[21][22]
In a Nov 1966 speech at a Flight Safety Foundation seminar in Madrid, he 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."[21]
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."[23]
By mid 1968, due to declining health, Allen had stepped down as Director, but was continuing his 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 often communicated with industry officials. 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.[24][25]
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 of 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.[22][26]
Allen's work in the mid to late 1960's, laid the groundwork for NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System, yet due to his death, most people in the aviation community know little about his contributions.[24] The concepts he envisioned and promoted, which are in use today are the very basis and foundation of the Aviation Safety Reporting System.[22][27][28][29][30][31]
Military Career
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 nearing an end when Allen deployed, and aside from numerous patrol flights, little action was seen, and Allen would soon return home.
In late 1952, Allen was recalled to Active Duty for the Korean War. He was assigned as Executive Officer of Night Fighter Squadron VC-4 DET44(N) (the Nightcappers) flying the Douglas F3D Skyknight.
On March 4, 1953, 100 miles off the coast of Virginia, the "Nightcappers" were practicing takeoff and landings aboard 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 and he had no choice but to ditch the aircraft.[32] 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 and survived 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. From there, the two squadrons would provide bomber escort and night combat air patrol over North Korea until fighting ended in late 1953.[33][34] 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 where they patrolled waters off the Pacific Northwest coast, searching for Soviet submarines using airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare techniques until August 1962 when the squadron was released from active duty.[35]
From 1963 to 1966, Allen was Aviation Safety Officer assigned to Reserve Unit 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.[36]
| 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, Lorena Edna 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 of 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). While pursuing both a military and civilian career in aviation, Allen and his family would move twelve times, to cities and towns across the country. Akron, Ohio, Wichita, Kansas, Key West, Florida, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Akron, Ohio (again), Houston, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Seattle, Washington, Chicago, Illinois (again), Lorton, Virginia, Annandale, Virginia and finally after retirement, to Allen's home state - Fort Worth, Texas.
References
- 1 2 Marqui's, A.N. (1968). Who's Who in America. Chicago, Illinois: A.N. Marquis Company. p. 64.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Retirement Notice:Bobbie R. Allen". Google.com. 1967. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Murphy, Charles S. (1967). "Letters of Nomination". B.R. Allen NTSB Documents: 8. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- 1 2 Guggenheim, Harry S. (1968). "Letter from Guggenheim Foundation". B.R. Allen NTSB Documents: 1. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- 1 2 Allen, Bobbie R. (1967). "Congressional testimony of Bobbie R. Allen on Apollo 1 tragedy" (PDF). wikipedia.org. p. 14. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ↑ name="Allen & Hallaby at crash site">AP Photo. "Allen & Halaby examine wreckage at crash site". Google.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ↑ Associated PRess. "Allen Says Equipment On Jetliner Was In Order". newspapers.com. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ Young, Warren R. (18 December 1964). "1964 Life Magazine Article: Mysterious Killer in the Skies". books.google.com. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ Pollock, Steve (2014). Deadly Turbulence. McFarland & Company. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-7864-7433-2. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ (Director) Yoshitane, Horii; (Host) McCutcheon, Dick; (Interviewee) Allen, Bobbie R. Allen. "NET JOURNAL: What Happened Up There? (TV)". paleycenter.org. The Paley Center for Media. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ | National Citizens Commission on International Cooperation
- ↑ Allen, Bobbie R. "Visa / Passport Documents". Google.com.
- ↑ Allen, Bobbie R. "International Travel Photographs". Google.com.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Letter from Charles S. Murphy, National Archives, Harry S. Truman Library, Received: 1/10/2024
- 1 2 Orlady, Harry W. (1999). Human Factors in Multi Crew Flight Operations. Ashgate. p. 397. ISBN 978-1-351-56344-4. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 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. "NASA's ASRS". aerocrewnews.com. Aero Crew News. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ Zimmerman, Dan. "What the Aviation Safety Action Program Taught Me about Mental Health and Guns". thetruthaboutguns.com. The Truth About Guns. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ Brown, Logan R.; Whittaker, Lisa. "Assessing the Effectiveness of the Collegiate Aviation Safety Reporting System (CASRS)". scholarworks, wmich.edu. Western Michigan University College of Aviation. 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".