In 1962 I was responsible for the planning and organisation of equipping various RAAF aircraft with a special canopy breaker tool. This followed several fatal accidents with F80 Shooting Stars in the USAF where high speed aborts resulted in over-runs. Ejecting was not an option due old type ejection seat and when in a few cases the aircraft was on fire the unfortunate pilots were unable to open the canopy due damage. The USAF then designed specialised canopy breaker knives with which the pilot could bash his way through the canopy.
At my request the USAF kindly sent us the plans of the knife and after testing them on a Vampire and Sabre canopy we installed them in the cockpit of Sabres, CT4's and Macchi's. Soon afterwards, the canopy breaker saved the life of a Sabre pilot who hit birds on take off at Ubon, Thailand and forced landed. His canopy jammed partially open and the aircraft caught fire. He used the knife to break the canopy and got out safely.
When I proposed the canopy breaker knife should also be installed in the Canberra bomber, the idea was promptly scotched by a Wing Commander at RAAF Dept of Air, who said the knife was no needed as the canopy had explosive bolts to blow the canopy on the ground. But what if the explosive bolts failed to fire?
I wondered at the time if electrical power was needed to actuate the explosive bolts and if the crash landing damaged the electrical contacts or power was cut, the bolts could not be fired. So the canopy breaker knife never went into Canberra. I hope lives were not lost because of that short-sighted personal decision.