8th Jan 1969 XL573
FAC famil flight with Lt Mills (pongo) in right seat. After usual bumble with simulated a/g and r/p let down to 100ft ish and 540 kts over N Devon (this is what DFGA guys do) when in the corner of my eye a bird appeared. Bang !! Canopy shattered, cockpit filled with cloud, instinctively pulled up and realised that Mills who fortunately had his visor down was covered in blood and bits of seagull but unhurt. But more to the point his pigtail was disconnected and his ejection seat handle was flapping loose. Careful slow rtb. He didn't know how close he'd come to an early departure from the aircraft.