going down 3 times fasenating falls of the Greatest Generation

[gdnagle]

I started this thread so as not to hijack wbraswell thread "Going down 3 times “ if we want to talk about luck. I wonder what they thought about on the way down, I guess his life flashing before him.

Now Nicholas Stephen Alkemade was the luckiest.
"Flight Sergeant Nicholas Stephen Alkemade was a rear gunner in Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster heavy bombers during World War II, who survived—without a parachute—a fall of 18,000 feet when abandoning his out-of-control, burning aircraft over Germany. His fall was broken by pine trees and a soft snow cover on the ground. He was able to move his arms and legs and suffered only a sprained leg."


Or how about "Alan Eugene Magee an American airman during World War II who survived a 22,000-foot fall from his damaged B-17 Flying Fortress. His parachute had been damaged and rendered useless. Magee fell over four miles before crashing through the glass roof of the St. Nazaire railroad station. Somehow the glass roof mitigated Magee's impact and rescuers found him still alive on the floor of the station."

I remember reading about these back in the 50's and just found them on the internet again. Fascinating facts of being watched over by a higher authority from the Great Generation.

 

[the ringo kid]

My Grandfather was a Captain in the Merchant Marine and was Master of: SS Fort Lee. In November 44, his ship was hit by a German torpedo from U 181 and hit amidship. The power was lost and the German Captain sent a light signal to the SS Fort Lee giving them 20 minutes to abandon ship. They then moved around to the other side of the ship ready for torpedo nr 2. When the time was up-they fired that 2nd torpedo not realizing that about 25 men were in lifeboats on that side of the ship and the explosion killed I think 27 men--many were USN Armed Guard.

Long story short-my grandfather was Norwegian but got his American citizenship by fighting as a Doughboy in France in WWI. The Germans had strict orders from the higher-ups to arrest any one who was from an occupied Country and supposedly were to execute them on the spot. As I never met my grandfather--I dont know how much of an accent he had? but when the surviving lifeboats were all in a group--the Germans made contact with them to give some food, medicines, blankets etx-and also to question the Captain. Well, my grandfather knowing of that arrest order--simply took off his jacket and put on another with lower rank on it. The Germans asked where was the Captain? and were told he went down with the ship--and the Germans were satisfied with that and left them. My grandfather knew to keep his mouth shut.