![]() Critically injured men were not able to bail out, although at times, they were assisted out of the plane by other crew members with their rip cords pulled, hoping the critically injured man would receive medical attention once he reached the ground.The “official” system of bailout often didn’t go as planned for many reasons. The pilot bailed out once all the other crew members bailed out.The co-pilot bailed out once the other crew members (other than the pilot) bailed out.The radio operator sent a distress call and relayed the aircraft’s position (if time permitted).The top turret gunner/engineer bailed out.He notified the pilot once the navigator and bombardier bailed out. The top turret gunner/engineer assisted the pilot if necessary.The navigator and bombardier bailed out.The navigator figured out the aircraft’s position and relayed the information to the radio operator (if time permitted).If the pilot was incapacitated, the co-pilot would take over the pilot’s duties. The pilot turned on the autopilot, reduced air speed, held the ship as level as possible, and monitored the crew’s evacuation of the aircraft.The pilot used the emergency release handle to clear the bomb bay.The ball turret gunner first had to exit the ball turret and hook up his chute as he did not have room in the ball turret to wear it. The tail gunner, waist gunners, and ball turret gunner bailed out.The pilot called for everyone to put on their parachutes and bail out over the interphone and using bell signals.Once a crewman finished performing his bailout duties, he was ready to bail out: Tail Gunner from the tail gunner’s emergency exit.Īnd, of course, an official system existed for how the bailout should go. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |