First published in The Age on September 13, 1962

Losing Weight the U-2 Way

AMERICAN U-2 pilot Captain Eddie Dunagan lost nearly 6 lb. in weight during a six-hour flight at 60,000 feet from Fiji to Laverton yesterday.

U-2 plane soon after landing with its braking parachute billowing behind.Credit:The Age Archives

Cramped in his tiny cockpit, the pilot lost the weight from dehydration. His flying suit was dripping with perspiration when he stepped from his plane.

American U-2 pilot Captain Eddie Dunagan.Credit:The Age Archives

Captain Dunagan, 30, piloted one of the two U-2’s from the United States that arrived at Laverton yesterday.

The ungainly, gull-like U-2’s will be stationed permanently at Laverton to take upper air samples south of Australia for fall-out and radioactivity tests.

After stripping from their clumsy flying suits Captain Dunagan and the other pilot, Captain Joe Hyde (33), asked for beer to replace the fluid they had lost on the flight.

“Beer is a great body rejuvenator and puts back the fluids,” Captain Hyde said.

The hydraulic braking system on Captain Hyde’s plane had a partial failure when he landed, but using a braking parachute, he brought the plane to a stop without trouble.

Four B-57’s — the U.S. version of the R.A.A.F.’s Canberra bomber — which will also carry out sampling tests, will arrive at Avalon aerodrome today.

The squadron is expected to be at full strength by November, when 200 officers and men will have arrived – 100 of them with their families.

Visitors to a public Air Force week display at Laverton on Sunday will be able to see the U-2’s flying and on the ground.

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