Man Once Flew a Nuclear Bomber UNDER The Mackinac Bridge – Crazy But True
It happened 65 years ago. One man convinced his crew to fly a bomber UNDER the Mackinac Bridge. No, really. This is one of the craziest stories in Michigan history – and even harder to believe…but it did happen – all thanks to one determined Michigan pilot who decided to fly his Air Force B-47 Stratojet bomber under the Mackinac Bridge.
Yep, he flew a bomber UNDER the Mackinac Bridge.
Yes, you read that right—under the Mackinac Bridge. I’m having difficulty visualizing it – but let’s dive into the story, shall we? It was April 24, 1959. Captain John Lappo, 39, an Air Force vet with 12 years under his belt, was up early for a nighttime simulated bombing run. Flying near the Straits of Mackinac, heading back to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio, Lappo decided it was time to make a dream come true and fly UNDER the Mackinac Bridge (actually any bridge would’ve done, but let’s move on).
In a 1976 confession to the Detroit Free Press, Lappo said he’d always wanted to fly under a bridge. He’d even tried to talk a pilot into doing it during missions in Korea, but it was a “no-go.” Now, in the pilot’s seat, he wasn’t taking “no go” for an answer. He announced to his crew, “I’m taking her under.” Which is fine if you’re the captain of a submarine, not a bomber.
Almost everyone was down for it….ALMOST
The crew was on board with the crazy idea, except for the navigator (which would become a major problem later), who was decidedly not thrilled. And honestly, who could blame him? The risks were off the charts. There was the obvious danger to everyone on the plane and the bridge, potential damage to government property, and the small matter of breaking many laws.
Let’s think about this, Lappo planned to fly the plane at full tilt under the Mackinac Bridge, which is about 150 feet above the Straits, the B-47 is about 28 feet tall, with a wingspan of 116 feet. What could go wrong, right?
Lappo said two vehicles were on the bridge—a car and a truck, both heading north. It was a clear, sunny day with a stiff breeze kicking up whitecaps in the Straits. Lappo dove leveled off at about 75 feet and zoomed under the Mighty Mac. The rest, as they say, is history. (I’ll admit to whispering “dude” when I first learned about this guy who flew a bomber under the Mackinac bridge).
Remember the Navigator?
Unfortunately, there were no photos or videos of the stunt, and it didn’t even appear in the newspaper. It wasn’t until someone in the military turned him in that anyone even found out. Lappo thinks his navigator ratted him out, telling the Free Press, “I didn’t know at the time that his father was a general, and he was going to rat on me when we got back.”
Lappo’s career hit turbulence (see what I did there?)… as he faced a court-martial.
Several men took the stands praising his skill, bravado, and integrity. One colonel called him a “man’s man” and vouched for his piloting prowess. But despite the support, the Strategic Air Command grounded Lappo, and he would never fly for the Air Force again.
After he left the military, he moved to Anchorage, Alaska where he worked as a social worker and flew small planes.
When asked, “Why take the risk? Why would you gamble your career and life on a stunt like flying a bomber UNDER the Mackinac bridge?”
Lappo said, “Why do men climb mountains? Or what motivates them to go into space? It’s just a sense of adventure that some men have, and some don’t.”
So there you have it: the tale of Captain John Lappo, the man who flew a bomber UNDER the Mackinac bridge because sometimes you must chase the thrill.
