I have found this thread to be somewhat 'interesting.
Purely from the fact that some posters simply cannot pass up the opportunity to 'sink the boot in.' Feel free to apply your own interpretation of my observation. IDGAS!
However, as far as I'm concerned, a letter to the Editor in The Australian (in the 'last post' section, somewhat appropriately I would think!) on Thursday 8th November inst says it all....
My Father was a veteran and was always the first to board the aircraft and the last to disembark, but this was 1944, the airline was 466 Squadron, RAAF, the aircraft, a Halifax bomber and he was the pilot.
On his final trip, as usual he was the last out, but this time by parachute.