Schaffner Lightning incident in news

[John Nichol]

Originally Posted by Finningley Boy

I haven't read John's book yet, but was wondering if the story of Flt Lt Tony Doige was in it. Same year I believe, earlier, in a Lightning of 11 Sqn, operating from Leuchars during a night exercise. Flt Lt Doige had altered hi immersion suit at the cuffs. It was no longer a good enough seal. After ejecting, and only about five miles off the coast and having activated his SARBE (if I recall) he was dead by the time the promptly scrambled SAR Whirlwind (also from Leuchars) got to him.

FB

That story isn't in the book FB - though I remember very well reading the Accident Summary (& possibly Air Clues?). Very sad case.
Needless to say, it was possible to cover only a fraction of the 10s (possibly 100s?) of thousands of worldwide ejections. The ones I chose tend to illustrate my concept of a 'journey' - or which illustrate how the systems developed.

There is one about 'adapted' flying kit featuring Charlie Neel - the USAAF exchange officer who preceded William Schaffner - a sortie which also involved Sir Chris Coville who then also features in the Schaffner story. Charlie is a wonderful fella who had been shot down in Vietnam a few months earlier, ejected and been rescued amidst an astonishing combat recovery effort.

His co-pilot that day - Guy Gruters - is a major character in the book when he is shot down for a 2nd time a few weeks later......

[Fonsini]

Originally Posted by RetiredBA/BY

Ordered your book John.
I ejected from a JP IN 1963, ( Dual, my QFI ordered me to eject, I did not hesitate ! ) things didnt go exactly to plan but I survived, just !
60 years ago on April 18 the, JP4 XP 635.

Do you mind if I ask what your ejection injuries were ? There is often mention of “minor injuries” following an ejection and I have always wondered if there is any consistency to them (back pain, facial injuries etc) and just how minor “minor” actually is. Apologies if I should take this to PM. Happy you made it out.

[John Nichol]

Originally Posted by Fonsini

Do you mind if I ask what your ejection injuries were ? There is often mention of “minor injuries” following an ejection and I have always wondered if there is any consistency to them (back pain, facial injuries etc) and just how minor “minor” actually is. Apologies if I should take this to PM. Happy you made it out.

In some of the incidents I cover in the book, injuries range from nothing - people who gather up their parachutes and head to the bar. Through minor cuts and bruises. Into 'minor' fractures. Then catastrophic life-changing injuries like a 'neck snapped as though by a professional hangman'.

This is a pic from the book of Neil J who snapped both his legs after a mid-air. Jolly painful........

[charliegolf]

Originally Posted by Fonsini

Do you mind if I ask what your ejection injuries were ? There is often mention of “minor injuries” following an ejection and I have always wondered if there is any consistency to them (back pain, facial injuries etc) and just how minor “minor” actually is. Apologies if I should take this to PM. Happy you made it out.

I seem to recall (dimly) that a major injury was deemed one that caused the individual to be unfit to serve in role for more than 21 days. Help me out someone...

CG

[RetiredBA/BY]

Originally Posted by Fonsini

Do you mind if I ask what your ejection injuries were ? There is often mention of “minor injuries” following an ejection and I have always wondered if there is any consistency to them (back pain, facial injuries etc) and just how minor “minor” actually is. Apologies if I should take this to PM. Happy you made it out.

Injuries were very minor, swollen goolies, that said, I still fathered two gorgeous daughters !
After this I was VERY careful how I routed my negative G strap !
Suffered intermittent back pain ever since, but Boeing seats were much more comfortable !
80 FPS guns were very harsh on the spine, but they were life savers .