Tacoma Bridge!

[tivoli_mike]

from Wikipedia "The effects of Galloping Gertie's fall lasted long after the catastrophe. Clark Eldridge, who accepted some of the blame for the bridge's failure, learned this first-hand. In late 1941 Eldridge was working for the U.S. Navy on Guam when the United States entered World War II. Soon, the Japanese captured Eldridge. He spent the remainder of the war (three years and nine months) in a prisoner of war camp in Japan. To his amazement, one day a Japanese officer, who had once been a student in America, recognized the bridge engineer. He walked up to Eldridge and said bluntly, 'Tacoma Bridge!'"

[catbirdseat]

What he meant was, "with engineers like you, Japan is certain to win this war!"

[TREETOAD]

He ended up designing the bridge over the river Quai which also fell down.