Originally Posted by
expert7700
Surely the rudder couldn't be that critical to flight, or we'd have secondary redundant backup units..... right?
I'm not sure what level of sarcasm you have here, but the rudder would absolutely have multiple independent actuators; even in the '60s, several independent hydraulic systems and pistons. And if they all failed, or the (single) rudder itself fell off (I mean, they aren't made of cellophane, cardboard or cardboard derivatives), and you lost that particular control surface, aircraft could still turn by banking, or manipulating the engines independently. This would prove uncomfortable for the passengers, but if something happened that the rudder fell off, then some aerobatics is the least of their concern.