Oddly enough I had exactly the same conversation with an alleged ex-lightning guy who told the exact same story! I assume we were talking to the same person! My conversation took place in the late eighties in a pub he was running in S Wales, whilst I was serving at RAF Pembrey Sands. He told of spending a few days at sea and was picked up, as he recalls, by an american helo. Having said that, he also mentioned that it was his third ejection and he had the metal plate in his head to prove it which became visible in cold weather!