There's another, a WWII Russian bomber pilot who similarly had little choice in the matter, but landed in snow after a bailout from 21,000 feet and survived; another Russian pilot went into fir trees and lived to tell about it. Details *here* and following:
Notable Free Fallers
I.M. Chisov:
Lt. I.M. Chisov was a Russian airman whose Ilyushin IL-4 bomber was attacked by German fighters in January of 1942. Falling nearly 22,000 feet, he hit the edge of a snow-covered ravine and rolled to the bottom. He was badly hurt but survived.
Alan Magee:
Alan Magee, a gunner on a B-17 with the 303rd Bomb Group of the U.S. 8th Air Force, was on a mission to St. Nazaire, France in January of 1943, when his bomber was set aflame by enemy fire. He was thrown from the plane before he had a chance to put on his parachute. He fell 20,000 feet and crashed through the skylight of the St. Nazaire train station. His arm was badly injured, but he recovered from that and other injuries.
Nicholas Alkemade
In March of 1944, Nicholas Alkemade was the tail gunner in a British Lancaster bomber on a night mission to Berlin when his plane was attacked by German fighters. When the captain ordered the crew to bail out, Alkemade looked back into the plane and discovered that his parachute was in flames. He chose to jump without a parachute rather than to stay in the burning plane. He fell 18,000 feet, landing in trees, underbrush, and drifted snow. He twisted his knee and had some cuts, but was otherwise alright.
Kids, don't try this at home...
FROM GARY BAILEY
IN THE MID 1980S I WAS A FURNITURE BUYER . WHILE ON MY WAY TO A MEETING AT MY OFFICE TO MEET A REP FROM ‘BIETHCRAFT’.I WAS LISTENING TO AN INTERVIEW ON BBC RAADIO. IT WAS WITH THE GUY WHO HAD FALLEN FROM A BOMMER AT ABOUT 22,000 FT AND LIVED . I WAS LATE FOR THE MEETING AND APPOLOGIZED TO THE REP WHO WAITED PATIENTLY .I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS LATE BECAUSE OF BEING GLUED TO THE RADIO. “CAN YOU REMEMBER THE MANS NAME “HE ASKED “ NO “ I SAID . HE HANDED ME HIS CARD
“NICK ALKERMADE” REALLY NICE CHAP .. HOW SPOOKY IS THAT