Schaffner Lightning incident in news
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
FB
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......
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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.
Last edited by Fonsini; 18th May 2023 at 12:39.
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.
This is a pic from the book of Neil J who snapped both his legs after a mid-air. Jolly painful........
Last edited by John Nichol; 18th May 2023 at 12:54.
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.
CG
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.
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 .
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