MARVELLOUS FACT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 310, 11 October 1943, Page 4

MARVELLOUS FACT

FALL FROM AN AEROPLANE. AIRMAN ALMOST UNINJURED. PARACHUTE COULD NOT OPEN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 10. The tailgunner of a United States Plying Fortress, Staff-Sergeant James Jones fell from an aircraft over Britain without the benefit of a parachute and escaped almost uninjured. The Flying Fortress was returning in darkness and richochetted off a hill. The impact threw Sergeant Jones through the escape door. Members of the crew estimate that the plane was at the height of between 25 and- 100 feet. Sergeant Jones instinctively pulled the rip cord of the parachute as he fell out. The parachute did not have time to open. Sergeant Jones fell on soft ground, but was knocked unconscious and suffered a slightly sprained leg. minor cuts and bruises. It is estimated that he rolled 100 yards after hitting the ground, with the parachute winding about his body as he rolled. Several months ago an Englishman, Plight Engineer Brian Taffe, fell about 1500 feet from a Stirling ‘bomber when his parachute failed to open. When found he was buried three feet in soft soil. He suffered a fractured skull, broken leg and shoulder, fractured ribs, and an injured back. Later he developed pneumonia hut to-day he is convalescing and hopes to be back on operation flights in a few weeks.