Geriaviator (pp Rupert Parkhouse #9861),
...After about 30 seconds of frantic pulling I concluded that I was not going to get the hood back...
Recalls my experience with a Spitfire at Hawarden:
...My goggles (pushed up on my head) flew off. Held by the band which is buckled to the back of the helmet, they fluttered madly about in the slipstream. I slammed the canopy forward. It shut - with the goggles still outside, but now with the band jammed in the frame, and consequently with me pinned to the top of it by the scruff of the neck! My head was so close to the canopy catch that I couldn't get my hands behind to open it.
Now what? I could see by squinting sideways, and reach the spadegrip at full stretch. I could still fly, but I certainly couldn't land. Not the brightest pebble on the beach, it took me a few seconds to realise what to do. Take your helmet off, idiot! Done, now to retrieve the goggles. It would be a bit of a struggle with the canopy catch as the band was jammed in it...
And in my case, I didn't have a gaggle of Me109s (of whatever nose colour) buzzing round me !
Danny.