Statement About Drugs And Pilots

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32381, 21 August 1970, Page 11

Statement About Drugs And Pilots

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 20. A Pentagon spokesman said today that a Strategic Air Command officer, who was not a flight crew-member, was convicted of selling marijuana and LSD at a California Air Force base in the autumn of last year, and that three flying officers were cleared in the same case.

The Pentagon statement was in response to remarks made yesterday by Senator Thomas Dodd during a drugabuse hearing, at which he raised the spectre of nuclear bombers being flown by p’lots under the influence of drugs. In all, four lieutenants and two sergeants were arrested on November 24, 1969, the Pentagon spokesman said. Lieutenant Thomas MeDonagh, who was arrested by State narcotics agents after selling marijuana and LSD to them in an Air Force base car park. McDonagh, who pleaded guilty in a state court on March 17, and was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for three years, had since requested release from duty; the request was still being considered. McDonagh’s three roommates were arrested, but charges of possessing dangerous drugs were either dropped or dismissed. Two of the lieutenants were now co-pilots on Air Force aerial tankers, which refuelled 852 nuclear bombers; the third, still on duty, was a 852 copilot. The two sergeants were charged with the sale and possession of marijuana, but these counts were dropped.

One sergeant remained on duty; the other had left the service to attend college. The Pentagon released this - information aftei Senator Dodd, chairman of a subcommittee looking into drug use in the armed forces, expressed concern yesterday that crews might be flying armed aircraft while under the influence of drugs. The Pentagon said that the incident had not been reported earlier by the Air Force because It wanted to protect those exonerated from questions that could be raised when they sought future employment.