Originally Posted by
Old-Duffer
I have written a series of books dealing with RAF losses (6600 fatal casualties and 9000 aircraft) since VE-Day. In studying reports there are frequent references to: 'the pilot was seen struggling with the controls' or 'the pilot sacrificed himself to avoid a school/hospital etc'. It is usually impossible to have any idea of what is going on in the aircraft and experience suggests that witness testimony is often 'fanciful' to say the least. That said, there can be no doubt that given time, opportunity and visibility a pilot would attempt to find the best place to put an aircraft down or to steer it to a safe heading (say towards the sea) before bailing out/ejecting. There are also known cases where a pilot has prejudiced his survival by trying to ensure his crew have cleared the aircraft before he leaves.
I know of one case of a pilot who had always said he would never leave until his crew were clear but come the great moment, he was the only one to attempt an escape.
This is an unhappy Thread but military flying has many risks attached to it and there is no point in trying to avoid considering it.
Old Duffer