Mystery Sound Friday!

Alright Men,
Here is the skinny, I went to turn my truck on. It turned on fine 1st time, but I released the electric choke too early, and had to restart.

On the second attempt, a high whiny/spinning sound coming from the starter started, so I turn the key off and the sound kept going. I went to the battery and disconnected the positive connecter, and the spinning/whiny sound kept going.

The truck was running, electric choke was off, but the sound kept going it was kind of scary, like a bomb getting ready to go...I was unsure of how to cut the engine off, so I pulled the main plug from the distributor, the engine cut off and the sound went away.

Any ideas?

Sounds like the starter pinion is sticking. Tap the starter a few times while somebody is turning the key. see if it goes away. Might need a new starter. The whining was the pinion not engaging the flywheel

Is there an explanation for the starter not stopping when I disconnected the battery?

Yeah. The truck was running. Power coming from alternator

Wow, okay Kbuck and spap!
As always, never let down!

That's another reason why the first battery cable you should go for is the ground cable. Not only is it the recommended first to remove and last to install under normal circumstances, but as you found out pulling the positive cable does not stop an alternator from charging and running the whole system.
But pull the negative battery cable and even a running alternator has nowhere to ply it's trade.

Paul