Stephen Harding wrote:

ArtKramr wrote:


Let me tell you a story about a long forgotten incident in WW II. It is
one of those things that have never been discussed on this NG. There was
a famous footblall player, a famous All American who became a B-17
pilot. His plane was severely damaged by flack and he bailed out and
survived. But not a single one of hsd crew did. There were accusations
that he lost his nerve and bailed before his crew could get out. And
they all died because of his cowardice.

Noithing was ever proven and he was not prosecuted. But there was
always that lingering doubt. And this haunted him all his life. Whenever
I hear of a pilot that made it out, but the crew were all lost, it
brings back the memory of that WW II incident. And there many of us who
will never forget it.

Surely there were many aircraft with two or more crew where only one got
out during all of WWII, PTO, CBI, ETO, MTO!

I should point out that GWHB was not the only member of his crew who
bailed out. He was merely the only survivor. (There were two bailouts
reported but only one "good chute")

The Avenger was noted for being a difficult plane to bail out of,
especially for the turret gunner & radioman, neither of whom had room to
wear their chutes while at their duty station. There has been
speculation that GHWB would have been better off ditching, as the
Avenger was a great floater (snarky comment - and he'd done it twice
before), but we'll never know whether or not the damage given to his
plane made that impossible.

-Marc
--
Marc Reeve
actual email address after removal of 4s & spaces is
c4m4r4a4m4a4n a4t c4r4u4z4i4o d4o4t c4o4m