lancaster bombers

[petethehoop]

of a crew of 7 which had the highest survival rate of lancaster bombers shot down in ww2

[sddsddean]

I have no proof of any of this, just my own thoughts as someone being interested in flying etc. The 7 crew are: 1) Pilot, 2) Flt Engineer, 3)Navigator, 4)Wireless Op, 5) Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner, 6) Mid Upper Gunner, 7)Tail Gunner (Arse End Charlie). As attacks normally came from the rear, 7's got hit a lot. Fighters also tried to take out the pilot. As he(1) and 2,3,4 all sit close together, I think they would not be too likely to survive. This leaves 5 & 6. Frontal attacks could take out the bomb aimer, but he had the advantage of laying on one of the escape hatches, so it was easy for him to get out. The Mid Up gunner was isolated between the two ends, so was less likely to get shot, but had to climb out of the turret, get his parachute(no room to wear it in the turret) and make his way to an escape hatch, whilst the aircraft was probably spinning and/or burning. My guess would be the Bomb Aimer, but like I said, I have no proof.

[jorton]

The one who threw a sickie.

[Stano]

I believe the pilot of a Lancaster was normally issued the type of parachute were the cute is actually strapped to your back side. The cute became his seat cushion while flying ( ex-air cadets may remember these cutes from flying in the old Chipmunk aircraft), the pilot was always strapped into his cute were as the rest of the crew had to clip their cute onto their front before bailing out. I'd guess in many instances the time saved not having to fumble around clipping on your cute could be critical.

[Spellmaster]

I think we'll take that as chute. The idea of having something cute stuck to your backside is interesting, but I don't suppose they had much time for that sort of thing over Dresden!

[sddsddean]

Although what you say is true Stano, the pilot did not have real advantage. He still had to get to either the escape hatch at the bomb aimers position, or the one to the rear of the Navigators position. Both would be quite a trek in a spinning/burning aircraft. Although I said earlier that the rear gunners didn't last long, they were the only other crew member who could wear their 'chute 'in situ'. All they then had to do was rotate the turret fully to one side and drop out through the access at the back of the turret. However, some gunners used to leave their 'chutes off for comfort or superstition. One such tail gunner, when caught between burning with the plane or jumping without a 'chute chose the latter; at 15,000 feet. Luckily for him it was winter and he landed in a 35 foot snow drift suffering 2 broken ankles. The Germans who found him didn't believe him for several days and were convinced he was a spy flown in by a light aircraft until his story was confirmed.

[gmc2002]

If the pilot caught it, the chance that all died would increase. Anyone else but the pilot and the rest of the crew could still get home so, buy that fact the pilot would survive most often. I did some stats using random numbers and an Excel spreadsheet... With a 1 in 7 chance of being shot and dying, and the pilot being shot means all die, the pilot survives almost twice as often as any other crew member.

[petethehoop]

i have just had the results of the quiz and the answer i was given was the bomb aimer.thanks to everyone for taking the time to post an answer