Jim
12-24-2012, 09:30 AM
...to bring you a special news bulletin.
When I was a kid, one of the local TV stations, WCSC, Charleston, SC, had a guy working there named Charlie Hall. Every Christmas eve, right dead in the middle of a heavily watched, prime time show, Charlie would break in from the TV studio and come on the screen with the statement I started this post with.
'Ladies and Gentlemen, we interupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin. We have received information from the Charleston Air force base that the radar watch has picked up an unidentified signal on the radar. If this becomes urgent, we will advise you concerning what you should..........stand by, please........"
"We are going to bring you the live transmission from the Charleston air Force Base at this time." At that point, you could hear the sounds of an obvious attempt at patching radio signals. In the background, you could hear the crackle of a radio and two or three males voices talking back and forth.
Charlie came back on and announced that the Air Base command had scrambled and launched two interceptor fighters.
"Charleston, India One, we have radar and are attempting visual at this time, over..."
"India One, Charleston, stand by to go to mission status, over...."
"Charleston, India Two, bearing one seven three, heading zero two zero, speed three two five knots, distance to intercept one five knots and closing, standing by on fire orders, over...."
I sat in front of the television, wide eyed and wondering what in the world was goin' on.
"Charleston, India One, we have visual. UAC appears to be a small airborne sleigh occupied by a single pilot, one blinking red light on nose of craft. Standing by to intercept."
"India One, Charleston, stand down from mission status. I say again, stand down from mission status! Do you read me? over"
"Charleston, India One, roger, standing down from mission status, target lock aborted. over"
Charlie came back on the screen and said something to the effect of "Ladies and gentlemen, the Charleston Air Force Base has advised us that this is not a threat. The aircraft has been positively identified as Santa Claus and he is approaching the Charleston area at this time. There is nothing to be concerned about. We apologize for the interuption and now return you to the regularly scheduled program."
God help you if you were between me and my bed.
When I was a kid, one of the local TV stations, WCSC, Charleston, SC, had a guy working there named Charlie Hall. Every Christmas eve, right dead in the middle of a heavily watched, prime time show, Charlie would break in from the TV studio and come on the screen with the statement I started this post with.
'Ladies and Gentlemen, we interupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin. We have received information from the Charleston Air force base that the radar watch has picked up an unidentified signal on the radar. If this becomes urgent, we will advise you concerning what you should..........stand by, please........"
"We are going to bring you the live transmission from the Charleston air Force Base at this time." At that point, you could hear the sounds of an obvious attempt at patching radio signals. In the background, you could hear the crackle of a radio and two or three males voices talking back and forth.
Charlie came back on and announced that the Air Base command had scrambled and launched two interceptor fighters.
"Charleston, India One, we have radar and are attempting visual at this time, over..."
"India One, Charleston, stand by to go to mission status, over...."
"Charleston, India Two, bearing one seven three, heading zero two zero, speed three two five knots, distance to intercept one five knots and closing, standing by on fire orders, over...."
I sat in front of the television, wide eyed and wondering what in the world was goin' on.
"Charleston, India One, we have visual. UAC appears to be a small airborne sleigh occupied by a single pilot, one blinking red light on nose of craft. Standing by to intercept."
"India One, Charleston, stand down from mission status. I say again, stand down from mission status! Do you read me? over"
"Charleston, India One, roger, standing down from mission status, target lock aborted. over"
Charlie came back on the screen and said something to the effect of "Ladies and gentlemen, the Charleston Air Force Base has advised us that this is not a threat. The aircraft has been positively identified as Santa Claus and he is approaching the Charleston area at this time. There is nothing to be concerned about. We apologize for the interuption and now return you to the regularly scheduled program."
God help you if you were between me and my bed.