Damage Resulting from Albatross Strikes 
Aircraft operations began at Midway in 1935 and reached a 
peak during world War II, During that time there are no records of 
human lives having been lost owing to collisions of aircraft with 
birds. likewise there are no records of planes having crashed et 
Midway because of bird strikes. 
Between April 8 and May 31, 1957, there were 25 albatross 
strikes, all of which were observed by the Control Tower operator. 
These were incurred as follows: During landing, 10; during takeoff, 
143 during taxiing, 1. 
The location of these 25 strikes was as follows: Propeller, 
203; engine and cowling, 5. 
None of these strikes resulted in damage to the aircraft. 
Between November 20, 1956 and May 31, 1957, there were 1638 
landings and takeoffs, about 99 of which resulted in albatross strikes. 
During this period damage sustained by seven aircraft was reported to 
us. The details of these seven damaging strikes* are as follows: 
Date Type Aircraft Remarks 
1) Jan. 13 UF-1 Starboard engine cowling dented; 
; 30 man/hours to repair. 
2) Jan. 16 UF~i Port engine cowling dented; 
30 man/hours to repair. 
3) Feb. 24 R7V Extensive damege to starboard 
horizontal stabilizer; temporary 
repair made before departure. 
YY Mar. 5 UF-1 Starboard engine cowling dented; 
30 man/hours to repair. 
5) Mar. 8 UF-1L Antenna post on port wing bent; 
2 ries to repair. 
6) Mar. 8 UF-1 Starboard float dented; not 
repaired, later replaced because 
of other damage. 
7) Mar. 8 R6D Port flap badly damaged; 
temporary repair made at Midway; 
flap changed at Barber's Point NAS. 
The majority of albatross strikes involved Laysan albatrosses. 
Black-footed albatrosses constituted only 7 percent of the runway kill. 
No black-footed albatross strikes resulted in damage to aircraft. 
* Minor damage incurred during the departure of planes from Midway 
was not reported back to this station. 
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