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Full Download pdf of Solution Manual for Taxation for Decision Makers, 2020 10th by Dennis-Escoffier all chapter
Full Download pdf of Solution Manual for Taxation for Decision Makers, 2020 10th by Dennis-Escoffier all chapter
Full Download pdf of Solution Manual for Taxation for Decision Makers, 2020 10th by Dennis-Escoffier all chapter
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2 Taxation for Decision Makers Research Solutions
in the year of receipt must be included in gross income in the next tax year. Rev. Proc. 2011-18,
2011-5 I.R.B. 443 clarifies that the definition of an eligible advance payment includes gift cards
that are redeemable by the taxpayer or by other entities that are legally obligation to accept the
card from a customer as payment for goods or services. Rev. Proc. 2013-29, 2013-33 I.R.B. 141
further clarified that a taxpayer is not precluded from using the deferral method just because the
taxpayer never earns payment from eligible gift card sales.
73. [LO 3.4] Personal Use of Political Campaign Funds (can be solved using Checkpoint® or a similar
service)
Thomas ran for Congress, raising $2 million for his campaign. Six months after losing the election,
auditors discovered that Thomas kept $160,000 of the campaign funds using the money to purchase a
vacation home. What are the tax consequences of this use of campaign funds?
Hint: Rev. Rul. 71-449, 1971-2 C.B. 77 (clarified by Rev. Rul. 74-22, 1974-1 C.B. 16)
Issue: Does Thomas have income as a result of using the campaign funds to purchase a vacation
home?
Conclusion: Yes, Thomas must recognize $160,000 income in the year the campaign funds were
used to pay for his vacation home.
Discussion of Reasoning and Authorities: Code Section 61 states that gross income includes
income from all sources unless specifically excluded. Rev. Rul. 71-449, 1971-2 C.B.77 concluded
that political contributions used for personal purposes by a political candidate are included in
gross income in the year the funds are diverted to personal use. A candidate is not taxed on
campaign funds to the extent they are used for expenses of a political campaign or a similar
purpose. Therefore, Thomas must recognize $160,000 income in the year the campaign funds
were used to pay for his vacation home.
74. [LO 3.4] Income from Donation of Blood (can be solved using Checkpoint® or a similar service)
Samantha has been unemployed for some time and is very short of money. She learned that the local
blood bank has a severe shortage of her type of blood and, therefore, is willing to pay $120 for each
blood donation. Samantha gives blood twice a week for 12 weeks, receiving $120 for each donation.
Are these funds includable in Samantha's gross income?
Hint: Green v. Comm. 74 T.C. 1229 (1980)
Issue: Does Samantha have income as a result of the funds she received for donating her blood?
Conclusion: Yes, Samantha must recognize as income the payments she received for selling her
blood.
Discussion of Reasoning and Authorities: Code Section 61 states that gross income includes
income from all sources unless specifically excluded. In Green v. Comm, 74 T.C. 1229 (1980),
the Court concluded that payments received for “donations” of blood plasma were income
received in the trade or business of selling the product of blood plasma.
Note to instructor: This case also addresses the deductibility of expenses for transportation to
give blood, expenses for special food and drugs, health insurance, and a depletion allowance.
Although some expenses were deductible, the taxpayer was not permitted an allowance for
depletion.
75. [LO 3.4] Payment of Life Insurance Premiums as Alimony (can be solved using free Internet sources
if citations are provided to students)
Alice and Manny finalized their divorce agreement in late 2018. Manny purchase and assigned to
Alice a life insurance policy on his life as part of the divorce agreement. Manny agreed to continue
Solutions to Develop Research Skills Problems 3
paying the premiums on this policy for the next 10 years. Manny wants to know if the premium
payments will be treated as alimony.
Hints: Reg. Section 1.71-1T(b), Q&A 6 and Rev. Rul. 70-218, 1970-1 C.B. 19.
Issue: Will Manny’s payments of the life insurance premiums qualify as alimony?
Conclusion: Yes, the premium payments will qualify as alimony providing that Alice is the
irrevocable beneficiary of the life insurance policy assigned to her.
Discussion of Reasoning and Authorities: Reg. Section 1.71-1T(b), Q&A 6 states that
premiums paid by the payor spouse for term or whole life insurance on the payor’s life under the
terms of the divorce or separation instrument will qualify as payments on behalf of the payee
spouse to the extent that the payee spouse is the owner of the policy. Rev. Rul.70-218, 1970-1
C.B. determined that when a life insurance policy on the life of the husband is assigned to the
wife and she is the irrevocable beneficiary, the premiums are deductible as alimony by the
husband and taxable to the wife.
Note that due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), alimony covered under a divorce agreement
finalized after 2018 will not be taxable or deductible. The TCJA made no change to divorce
agreements finalized by December 31, 2018.
76. [LO 3.4 & 3.5] Income vs. Gift (can be solved using free Internet sources if citations are provided to
students)
A minister receives an annual salary of $16,000 in addition to the use of a church parsonage with an
annual rental value of $6,000. The minister accepted this minimal salary because he felt that was all
the church could afford to pay. He plans to report these amounts on his income tax return but he is
uncertain how to treat the cash gifts he receives from the members of his congregation. These gifts are
made out of love and admiration for him. During the year the congregation developed a regular
procedure for making gifts on special occasions. Approximately two weeks before each special
occasion when the minister was not present, the associate pastor announced before the service that
those who wished to contribute to the special occasion gifts could do so by placing cash in envelopes
and giving them to the associate who would give them to the minister. Only cash was accepted to
preserve anonymity. The church did not keep a record of the amounts given nor the contributors, but
the minister estimates that these gifts amount to about $10,000 in the current year. How should he treat
these gifts?
Hint: Goodwin, Lloyd L., Reverend v. U.S., 76 AFTR 2d 95-6716, 67 F3rd 149, 95-2 USTC
¶50534 (1995, CA8); affirming 74 AFTR 2d 94-6987 (DC IA).Also see Wayne Felton, TC Memo
2018-168, RIA TC Memo ¶2018-168, 116 CCH TCM 365.
Issue: How should the minister treat the $10,000 in cash gifts?
Conclusion: The minister should include the $10,000 in his gross income as compensation.
Discussion of Reasoning and Authorities: Code Section 61(a) provides that gross income
includes all income from whatever source derived unless excluded by a specific provision of the
Code. According to Section 61(a)(1), compensation for services, in whatever form received, is
includable in gross income. Section 102(a) excludes from gross income the value of property
acquired by gift. Whether a payment is a gift under Section 102(a) or gross income under section
61(a) is a factual question.
In Goodwin v. U.S., a minister received gifts from members of his congregation who believed
he was a good minister and wanted to reward him. The payments were made on a regular basis,
were systematically organized and collected by church personnel, were substantial compared to
the minister’s salary, and were made to retain the minister’s services. The court held that these
factors showed that the intent was to increase the minister’s compensation. The fact that the
payments were anonymous and were not coerced did not change the result. Therefore the so-
called gifts were part of the minister’s taxable compensation.
In Felton, a minister received gifts from members of his congregation via special envelopes
4 Taxation for Decision Makers Research Solutions
that were earmarked as nondeductible pastoral gifts and separate from regular church tithes and
offerings. Despite the gift label, the court determined that these donations were taxable income
because the members’ intent in giving them was to keep the pastor, who did not take a salary
during the years at issue.
applies for and receives permission to change her tax-year end to October 31.
Solution: For tax purposes, community income is split evenly between spouses who file
separate returns in community property states. In common law states, income is
usually taxed to the individual who earns the income.
20. [LO 3.6] Taxes for a U.S. Citizen vs. Nonresident Alien
Solution: United States citizens are subject to U.S. tax on their worldwide income. Income
Solutions to Develop Research Skills Problems 7
receive $700 ($10,000 x 7%) in interest income but will pay $84 ($700 x 12%) in
tax on that income resulting in an after-tax cash flow of $616 ($700 - $84).
b. Jessica will now pay $224 ($700 x 32%) in tax on the corporate bond interest
income resulting in after-tax cash flow of only $476 ($700 - $224) while her after-
tax cash flow from the municipal bonds is still $550.
Solution: a. $3,000. If Charles lives for 15 years, he will receive a total of $165,000 (15 x
$11,000). $120,000 of this represents a return of his investment; the remaining
$45,000 represents income earned on this investment and is taxable. Of each
$11,000 payment, $3,000 [($45,000/$165,000) x $11,000] must be included in
income. The remaining $8,000 is a tax-free return of his investment.
b. If Charles dies after receiving only $77,000 (7 years at $11,000 per year), he
will have recovered only $56,000 (7 x $8,000) of his total $120,000 investment.
The remaining $64,000 ($120,000 - $56,000) can be deducted on his final tax
return.
$90,000) capital gain on the sale of the vacation home. She has no income from
the child support payments.
b. Stu is permitted to deduct the monthly alimony payments of $1,300 ($15,600
annually) in determining his adjusted gross income.
tacks on to the period the gift is held by Carlos. Justin’s tax rate is 20% for the
long-term capital gain and dividend income while Carlos has a zero rate for the
long-term capital gain and dividend income. The difference in the tax rates
between Justin and Carlos is 20% (20% for Justin – zero for Carlos) resulting in a
$1,840 ($9,200 x 20%) tax savings.
This solution does not include the 3.8% net investment income (NII) Medicare
surtax discussed in Chapter 5. Also note that this solution specifies that Carlos is
age 24. As discussed in Chapter 12, the kiddie tax provision can cause some
unearned income of children under age 24 to be taxed at the tax rate for estates and
trusts.
provides the higher net present value for the company’s cash flow. Income is not
recognized until payment is received. This is usually later than when income
would be recognized under the accrual method. By delaying the recognition of
income, the payment of taxes on this income can be delayed. In addition, cash-
basis taxpayers may have the ability to make early payments for expenses at year-
end, accelerating their deductions. A deduction in the current year may be worth
more than the same deduction in the next year due to the time value of money
party for money or money’s worth, the receipt of the face value of the policy is no
longer tax free. Income must be recognized based on the proceeds received and the
purchaser’s investment in the policy at the time of the decedent’s death.
60. [LO 3.2, 3.4 & 3.5] Doctrine of Constructive Receipt
Solution: This question is based on an Oprah Winfrey show. The only significant difference
is that Oprah gave more than 300 audience members debit cards for only $1,000
each.
1. Does the receipt of the debit card (“prize”) result in $16,000 taxable income to
the recipient even if the recipient does nothing further with the card? Even though
the prize is not supposed to be used for one’s own use, would the recipient’s
control over the disbursement of the proceeds from the debit card be sufficient to
cause the recipient to have taxable income under Section 61? Do constructive
receipt principles apply? Reg. Sec. 1.451-2 states “...income is not constructively
received if the taxpayer’s control of its receipt is subject to substantial limitations
or restrictions.” Will the stipulation that the use of the card be for a charitable
cause amount to a “substantial limitation or restriction”? There does not appear to
be a way for the show to effectively enforce this so it is doubtful that this
stipulation will qualify as a substantial restriction but there is no authority directly
on point.
2. If the receipt of the card is not itself a taxable event, what about the actual usage
of the card? What are the ramifications for the audience participants who transfer
the $16,000 to their selected person or cause? The drawing down of cash
(regardless of the intent for so doing) is actual (not merely constructive) receipt of
the money. This will substantially increase the risk that the recipient of the debit
card has gross income under Section 61 at the moment of cash withdrawal. Again,
there is no authority directly on point.
3. If the audience members give the money to a qualified charitable organization,
the individuals can claim a charitable contribution deduction only if they itemize
their deductions. If they have no other itemized deductions, their tax benefit from
the contribution will be limited to the amount it exceeds their standard deduction
(thus, not completely offsetting their $16,000 gross income).
4. If the audience members donate the money to a needy person instead of a
qualifying charitable organization, they would have $15,000 of gross income and
would have made a taxable gift of $1,000 ($16,000 gift less $15,000 annual
exclusion) assuming they had not given other amounts that year to the same donee.
5. Will the Bank of America be able to deduct the payouts on the debit cards as a
business expense (possibly as marketing)? Most likely it will get some deduction.
The bank would not, however, qualify for any charitable contribution deductions
because it has no control over which donees are selected by the audience members.
6. Must the value of the DVD recorders be included as taxable income as a prize?
Alternatively were the DVD recorders merely “loaned” to the audience members,
to be returned when the future show is taped? Will only those audience members
who return for the future show (with a recorded story for use on the show) be
16 Taxation for Decision Makers Research Solutions
permitted to keep the recorder? Will they have taxable compensation income from
providing their video recording services in exchange for being permitted to keep
the DVD recorders? It certainly seems likely they would have taxable income.
Search the Internet
61. [LO 3.4] Locate IRS Publication and Calculate Income
Solution: $2,500. Add one-half of $10,000 social security benefits to the $20,000 dividend
income and the $5,000 of tax-exempt bond interest, resulting in a total of $30,000.
Subtract the $25,000 base amount for a single individual from the $30,000 total
yielding $5,000 in excess of the base amount. Because the excess beyond the base
amount ($5,000 excess) is less than $9,000, no more than half the benefits will be
taxed. Compare $2,500 (half of the $5,000 excess beyond the base amount) to
$5,000 (half of the Social Security benefits of $10,000). The smaller of these two
($2,500) is included in the taxpayer’s gross income. Thus, the taxpayer’s gross
income is $22,500 ($20,000 dividend income + $2,500 taxable Social Security
income).
62. [LO 3.4] Locate IRS Publication and Determine Countries Where Exempt
Solution: U.S. citizens who are residents of the following countries are exempt from U.S. tax
on their benefits: Canada, Egypt, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Romania, and the
United Kingdom. A resident of Italy is exempt but only if also a citizen of Italy.
recognized and does the answer change if the landlord is an accrual basis taxpayer
rather than cash basis?
One day during the beginning of our term at Kelly, someone decided
that the cadets should stand reveille. How it came about or who
caused the decision was never known by the detachment, but there
was a strong rumor circulated to the effect that our beloved Cadet
Sergeant had not forgotten the episode of the pole-cats. It was an
unheard of thing for the cadets of Kelly to stand formations. We had
graduated from that when we left Brooks, and the thought of
continuing it in our advanced status was, we concluded,
degenerating to the morale of the detachment.
Consequently, when our first sergeant himself delighted us with
verbal visions of being tumbled out of bed at first call if we were not
up at the blast of his whistle, we decided that if it were in the
combined power of the detachment, the first call should not sound
the next morning. We could not disobey an order; army training
banishes even the remotest thought of that; but we might prevent
that order from being given. The Cadet Captain and first sergeant
were assigned to a private room together. The rest of us were given
cots in the barracks. While supper was in progress that night the
hands on the sergeant’s alarm clock were so manipulated that the
alarm would sound exactly one hour after the time set. At two o’clock
the next morning a padlock was placed on the hasp outside of his
door, and when first call blew a few hours later the cadet detachment
slept soundly on.
From spot landings we passed to hurdles. Hurdles require the ship to
be brought down without assistance from the engine, and after just
passing over a line stretched about eight feet above the ground, to
be landed as close as possible to the hurdle. This gave us excellent
practice for landing over a fence in a small field.
One of the traditions at Kelly was that anyone knocking down the
hurdle must treat the rest to a case of refreshments. It often
happened that a pilot was so intent on getting over the hurdle string
that he did not notice that his plane was in a stall, and about the time
he was over the hurdle the bottom would fall out from under him and
his plane would pancake into the ground. Almost every class had
one or two minor crack-ups as a result of stalling over the hurdle
string.
The De Havilands were not considered safe for hard stunting and as
a result we were only allowed to do wing-overs and split air turns.
Diving in excess of one hundred and fifty miles per hour was also
forbidden. Consequently only air work allowing us to be thoroughly
accustomed to the plane was included in the flying schedule before
our formation training began.
The strange field landing training was one of the most interesting
parts of our schooling. An instructor would lead a number of planes
and land in some field we had never seen before. Then each cadet
was required to land and take-off after the instructor. Some of the
fields were small and full of obstructions. Yet we had comparatively
few even minor crack-ups. Later each cadet was given an
opportunity to lead the rest and pick out a field for them to land in
while the instructor trailed.
At Kelly we were given more and longer cross country trips than at
Brooks. One of the most important parts of flying training is cross
country experience. We made flights to Corpus Christi, Galveston,
Laredo and a number of other places.
Each class spent about two weeks on a gunnery expedition at
Ellington Field between Houston and Galveston. Ellington Field was
one of the few double fields built during the war, but was later
abandoned and, except for a National Guard squadron, was entirely
deserted.
We set up our mess in the clubhouse and made the old building
which had served as officers’ quarters as comfortable as possible.
This was in winter and the weather was cold, even in Texas, unusual
though it might have been. There were no stoves available so we
contrived all sorts of makeshifts to hold a little fire in. If nothing better
was obtainable, we shovelled several inches of earth on the floor
and devised a hood of some kind leading through a few lengths of tin
pipe to the chimney. Of course these fires could not be left
unguarded, so it was necessary to put them out in the morning to be
rekindled at the close of operations for the day.
Our gunnery work was divided into three parts: ground targets,
shadow targets and tow targets. The ground targets were large
sheets of paper similar to those used on a rifle range and were set
up at an angle on the ground. We shot at these with both the
Browning and Lewis machine guns.
The Browning guns on a De Haviland were mounted rigidly in front of
the pilot and were synchronized with the engine to shoot between
the blades of the propeller. They were capable of firing up to twelve
hundred rounds a minute, depending on the motor R.P.M. when they
were fired.
Several of us would form a large circle with our planes, and starting
our dive from about one thousand feet, would fire short bursts into
the target on the ground. After completing our bursts we would zoom
back up into the circle while the next ship started its dive. Each plane
had its individual target.
After emptying the Browning guns we gave our observers a chance
with their Lewises by circling low around the targets. On the next
flight the pilot and observer traded places.
The Lewis gun is mounted on a turret on the rear cockpit. Two guns
were usually used together and they could be pointed in any
direction.
After a few days on ground targets we were sent out over Trinity Bay
for shadow targets. One plane is flown fairly high over the water
while another fires at its shadow. The splashes from the bullets are
easily seen and the accuracy of marksmanship very apparent.
The tow targets are by far the most difficult of the three varieties, and
require skillful maneuvering and excellent marksmanship. They
consist of a cloth sleeve similar to a wind sock which is towed a few
hundred feet behind a De Haviland flying at sixty or sixty-five miles
an hour.
When the forward or Browning guns were used, the attacking ship
approached the tow target head on, firing one or two short bursts as
it passed. In this way there was no danger of the occupants of the
towing plane being struck by a wild shot. The De Havilands were
much too large to use the forward guns effectively on a tow target.
Any accurate shooting required the quick maneuverability of a
pursuit ship.
The Lewis guns were used while flying parallel with the target and
were very effective. When we were close enough we could often see
the tracers pass directly through the cloth sleeve.
After returning from Ellington Field we were given a few hours in
each of the various types of service airplanes. The M.B.-3 and the
S.E.-5 scouts; the Martin Bombers with their twin Liberty engines;
the T.W.-5 two-place transition planes; and the little Sperry
messengers. In this way we obtained experience in each branch:
pursuit, attack, observation and bombardment. Later we were given
our choice of which we desired to specialize in. If our wishes
corresponded with the judgment of the instructors we were assigned
to that branch.
Together with three other cadets and four student officers, I was sent
to the pursuit stage, where we spent the few remaining weeks of our
course, piloting the S.E.-5 and the M.B.-3 single seaters.
Pursuit combines a little of every branch of the air corps. In addition
to formation combat, dog fighting, and ground strafing, the pursuit
pilot is often called upon to make observations and do light bombing.
A great deal of our time was devoted to formation flying. Air combat
of the future will probably often be between large formations rather
than individual pilots, and it is accordingly of utmost importance for
the pursuit pilot to hold his place in formation instinctively, so that his
entire attention can be devoted to the enemy rather than to his own
formation.
We often maneuvered our flights while the individual planes were
less than ten feet apart and it was not unusual to dive vertically for
several thousand feet in a fairly close formation.
We learned the use of Lufberry circles, cross over turns, and other
formation tactics. Our formations were often tight, it is true, but
strange as it may seem, very few accidents occur from too close
flying. A pilot is constantly alert when his plane is only a short
distance from the one in front and nothing is allowed to distract his
attention. On the other hand, when there is quite some distance
separating them he is often more engrossed in lighting a cigarette or
watching some object on the ground than in his own formation.
In pursuit flying we came to have great confidence in our parachutes.
The planes we were flying were kept in excellent condition and none
ever failed, notwithstanding the fact that we placed them under every
conceivable strain imaginable. But the knowledge that we did not
have to concern ourselves about whether they did fall apart or not
was an invaluable factor in building up our morale. Our formations
were tighter, the combats faster, and our flying better as a result.
We had a number of close calls but considering the amount of flying
we had done, and that all of it was military flying, which cannot be
ever compared to commercial traffic as far as safety is concerned,
our accidents were remarkably few and none resulted seriously.
No one knows of the risk he takes better than the pursuit pilot and no
one is less concerned about it. Every move, although at lightning
speed, is made with a coolness born of experience and love of flying.
The army Air Corps is built up of men who fly for the love of flying.
Their only mission in life is to build up the finest air corps in the
world, and their greatest desire is to be given the opportunity to do
so without restriction. If an officer is lost in duty he would be the last
one to wish for resulting restrictions on his comrades.
A week of our pursuit training was spent on a gunnery expedition at
Galveston. We flew there from Kelly Field in M.B.3A. machines and
fired on tow targets exclusively. Our field was close to the Gulf, and
when the day’s operations had been completed we were free to go
about as we chose. Consequently a large part of the evening was
spent along the rocky beach.
On the night of our last day at Galveston several of us were holding
a contest to decide which could reach the most distant rock between
the breakers, before the next wave rolled in. One of the fellows was
outstanding in his accomplishments. In fact he was so dextrous that
none of us could compete, so we were all loud in our praises and
unanimously agreed that there was not a rock in the gulf too obscure
for him. There was, however, a rock a number of feet beyond the
most distant point any of us had attained, which was visible only for
an instant as the last breaker receded and before the next arrived.
Even this was possible, we confidently assured him.
He watched that rock intently for several minutes; then bolstered up
by our praise and his own confidence, he stood poised and ready. At
the proper moment he nimbly leaped from boulder to boulder after
the retreating surf but just before the final rock was touched a large
wave towered above it. Too late! The chance of retreat had never
been considered and its opportunity had passed. With do or die
determination he leaped onto the boulder and into the breaking
wave. This incident would not have been serious or its
consequences important had we been able to carry any extra
equipment in our pursuit planes, but as it was, extra clothing was a
scarce article, and when we took off for San Antonio and Kelly the
following morning, it was necessary for him to send his wet clothes
back in a De Haviland and make his flight in a bearskin flying suit
without insulation against the bearskin.
In warm weather these suits acquired an odor similar to that of a
goat which has been in the barn all winter and the fur itself was far
from comfortable. On the trip back a piston froze in the engine. For
two days the cadet was alternately roasting in the southern sun and
freezing in the Texas nights while he guarded his ship and waited for
a new engine.
After our return from Galveston while we were practicing formation
attack on two seaters, I experienced one of the incidents of the
military pilot’s life. I made my first emergency parachute jump. When
an Army plane crashes, the pilot is required to write a detailed report
of the crash. My account was as follows:
“A nine-ship SE-5 formation, commanded by Lieut. Blackburn, was
attacking a DH4B, flown by Lieut. Maughan at about a 5,000 foot
altitude and several hundred feet above the clouds. I was flying on
the left of the top unit, Lieut. McAllister on my right, and Cadet Love
leading. When we nosed down on the DH, I attacked from the left
and Lieut. McAllister from the right. After Cadet Love pulled up, I
continued to dive on the DH for a short time before pulling up to the
left. I saw no other ship nearby. I passed above the DH and a
moment later felt a slight jolt followed by a crash. My head was
thrown forward against the cowling and my plane seemed to turn
around and hang nearly motionless for an instant. I closed the
throttle and saw an SE-5 with Lieut. McAllister in the cockpit, a few
feet on my left. He was apparently unhurt and getting ready to jump.
“Our ships were locked together with the fuselages approximately
parallel. My right wing was damaged and had folded back slightly,
covering the forward right-hand corner of the cockpit. Then the ships
started to mill around and the wires began whistling. The right wing
commenced vibrating and striking my head at the bottom of each
oscillation. I removed the rubber band safetying the belt, unbuckled
it, climbed out past the trailing edge of the damaged wing, and with
my feet on the cowling on the right side of the cockpit, which was
then in a nearly vertical position, I jumped backwards as far from the
ship as possible. I had no difficulty in locating the pull-ring and
experienced no sensation of falling. The wreckage was falling nearly
straight down and for some time I fell in line with its path and only
slightly to one side. Fearing the wreckage might fall on me, I did not
pull the rip cord until I dropped several hundred feet and into the
clouds. During this time I had turned one-half revolution and was
falling flat and face downward. The parachute functioned perfectly;
almost as soon as I pulled the rip cord the riser jerked on my
shoulders, the leg straps tightened, my head went down, and the
chute fully opened.
“I saw Lieut. McAllister floating above me and the wrecked ships
pass about 100 yards to one side, continuing to spin to the right and
leaving a trail of lighter fragments along their path. I watched them
until, still locked together, they crashed in the mesquite about 2000
feet below and burst into flames several seconds after impact.
© Wide World Photos