was as a P-39 Airacobra production test pilot. He graduated to experimental test pilot and later flew most of the stability test flights on the P-63 Kingcobra and the jet powered P-59 Airacomet. On January 5, 1945, Jack Woolams, Bell’s chief test pilot, was prepar- ing for a dive test in a P-59. Mashman was instructed to fly a P- 63 to 12,000 feet, wait for Woolams to dive down from 25,000 and then follow him down.


As Woolams descended down,


Mashman followed him only to see the tail on Woolams’s aircraft explode. Woolams ejected and parachuted down to a snow-cov- ered field with Mashman circling overhead. Woolams was injured and suffering from hypothermia, but was able to walk a mile and a half to a farmhouse. Mashman relayed back to the control tower what had happened. Unfortunately, the roads were covered with snow and an ambulance was unable to get to Woolams. Upon hearing the news, Larry Bell personally dispatched his still experi- mental helicopter to provide medical help.


Carlson was


Floyd Carlson flew the


second Bell Model 30, known as Ship 2, from the Bell Aircraft fac- tory to a parking lot where he picked up a doctor and proceeded to Woolams. The helicopter did not have a radio so Mashman circled the farmhouse to direct Carlson where to go.


able to deliver the doctor, who stabilized Woolams until a snow-


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