[Boiling point]

I recall a similar story I read in elementary school in the sixties. The story I recall had the B-17 crew member leaping out after finding the chutes on fire and decided it better to fall to his death rather than burn. His boots were ablaze when he jumped and he blacked out after leaving the plane. After falling about 13000 ft I believe, he fell through pine trees and landed in deep snow on a steep slope and slid to a stop. His only injuries were burned feet. He blew his whistle and was shortly captured by the Germans, who disbelieved his story. After finding the wreckage, and extrapolating the flight path, he became somewhat of a celebrity with the Germans. Does anyone recall this? is it the same guy, or a different story altogether?

[Taylor42]

I remember a similar story. A tail gunner who fell out of a damaged airplane and fell head first (he could see the stars through his feet) and landed in trees and snow. The Germans believed his story when they realized his parachute harness had not been used.

That's the version I remember.

[CrazyIvan]

I read the exact same story in one of those "Weakly Reader" type publications in sixth grade (I'm 49)

[glorgau]

It's not the fall that kills, it's the sudden stop at the end! :-)

[Robe]

Documented in Martins Cadin book "Black Thursday" the daylight attack on Germany's Ball Bearing plant at Swinefurt(sp?)
He was a tail gunner, the tail was blown off the airplane, he didn't realize it had became unattached until he unstrapped to go get his parachute. He then fell out, fell 20,000+ into a snow bank

[Freedom4US]

Incredible story!

A somewhat similar deal (well, not really) I'll have to dig it up - a photographer had been making several jumps with buddies but totally forgot his parachute on his last jump. He did remember his helmet video camera though. The footage supposedly showed a typical jump, then frantic motions as he reached for what wasn't there. He died.

[BluH2o]

... he fell through pine trees and landed in deep snow on a steep slope and slid to a stop. His only injuries were burned feet.

This is a true story ... the airman, in addition to burned feet, had a number of pine needles extracted from him. The pine needle injuries and the fact no parachute was found convinced the German captors the airman was telling the truth about his fall.

[gridlock]

I recall a similar story I read in elementary school in the sixties...

SRA's, huh? I liked the story of the guy who fought with a tiger and killed him by shoving his arm down the tiger's throat. Now that's gutsy!

[vlad335]

I remember this from Elementry School as well. It was called "They Laughed at his story"

[U S Army EOD]

The man who you are talking about was a tail gunner on a British Lancaster bomber. He was treated as a celebrity by the Germans who would take him around and show him off.