[caldrail]

Bailing out in occupied territory could be a risky business.. AA teams would have other priorities and it would be more important for them to bring down more enemy aircraft.
However, to anyone who could carry a weapon, you would be fair game to small arms fire.. Pissed off soldiers, civilians you had just bombed etc might have a go.
In real terms, you would be a better catch with a high intelligence value if you were captured and interogated, rather than killed.

There's a story I'm reminded of. A Lancaster was shot down over Germany. Six of the crewmen were captured after they baled out by the regular wehrmacht. Their wounds were treated in hospital and all were sent to POW camps. The seventh was unlucky enough to be found by an SS unit. They hung him from a tree, there and then.

By and large the average person won't know who this guy on a parachute is. An enemy? One of your lads? Few would be able to regonise details of aircraft recognition or uniform. Only when the man is approached on the ground does this become clear. There may be circumstances when things are a little more obvious, such as the presence of only enemy aircraft, but then - wouldn't most people simply watch what was going on or take cover?

PS - Love the photo of the missing wingtip! Is that a genuine shot? If so, its a remarkable piece of piloting.

[Guest]

The A5M was a very light aircraft,so yes,it's possible that the central fuselage served as a wing.Just like in happened with an F-15 of EAF.

ps:The photo is real.Notice angle of the right aileron,the pilot stick was pushed far right (Aileron pointing up),so he can balance the missing wingtip.

[Trooper117]

You will find quite a few WWII photo's of aircraft that are absolutely wrecked by cannon or AA fire, flak etc... First thoughts when you see em is, 'OMG.. how was that still flying!' but the pilots still managed to get them back, minus large sections of wings an all..

[Guest]

Look from the second picture on:
http://untoldvalor.blogspot.com/2007/06 ... -ship.html

[Trooper117]

Now this is serious! Guys, I think we have a problem!..

[Alien_12]

F-15 collided with MIG during Desert Storm and he camed to base without right wing. Not without half wing, without a WING!!! I have it on video.

[Dudok22]

and where is that video? :lol: I want to see it!! pls :twisted:

[caldrail]

The A5M was a very light aircraft,so yes,it's possible that the central fuselage served as a wing.Just like in happened with an F-15 of EAF.
.

The A5M has a tube-like fuselage which gives low drag forwards but unless at a reasonable angle of attack very little lift if any, and even then, the curvature of the fuselage would allow air to flow around it thus much of the lift gained from pressure underneath would be lost. The F15, with a flat fuselage, is far better able to generate lift.

I did once claim to have gained some measure of lift in a Cessna during a steep turn from the fuselage side. Thats because the fuselage is more slab-sided on at 90 deg, and in any case, I did concede that the lift generated was very small. You might argue that my steep turn was actually a very flat chandelle. Well... It impressed the instructor!

[Alien_12]

I have it on DVD. Can't send to the computer

[GeneralPsycho]

I have it on DVD. Can't send to the computer

RIP the video, or just the section of it

[Guest]

Anyway,here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LveSc8Lp0ZE

If there was an enemy fighter,he was about to get that F-15 100 times before it can touch the ground.