The B-17 Gunner Who Fell 20,000 Feet with No Parachute (And Lived) - A True Story

[@TJ3]

Install Raid for Free ✅ IOS/ANDROID/PC: clcr.me/TJ3History and get a special starter pack 💥 Available only for the next 30 days

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

Your sponsoring by the infernal RAID whores made me stop watching.

[@abuyousufgallego7516]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHKsh3qioJJopas

[@TheSirStrazzen]

Hey T.J. , very Well Met. 😊 I hate to Nit-Pick , but at several points you call the aviation branch of the U.S. Military ; Air Force, Air Forces and lastly Army Air Force. Since the United States Air Force was not a separate branch of the U.S. Military until 18 Sept., 1947 . I know this and much more about My/Our beloved USAF since I'm a Veteran of said Air Force and I remember the emphasis Command was putting on to young Airmen like I was in 1986 as we prepared for the 40th Anniversary Celebrations down at Lackland Air Force Base {AFB} when I was there going through Boot Camp.👍😄 And with regards to you saying "Army Air Forces" you were close, but it should have been ""The Army Air Corps"" since the Air Force was still a part or the US Army from 1 Aug., 1907 till 17 Sept., 1947. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the second youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the fourth in order of precedence. While it was a part of the US Army the USAF was much like the US Marine Corps in that they were both a lower, lesser part of a bigger whole part ~~~ the Air Corps a part of ' The Department of the Army ', and the Marine Corps a part of " The Department of the Navy". It was the NSA that got the Air Force free and out from under the Army's shadow and let it "Spread It's Wings", so to speak. Now a days we have the Marines still under the Dept. of the Navy, the Dept. of the Army on it's own as well as the US Coast Guard who is now a part of Homeland Security. And then the US Air Force has been it's own Master since Sept.18th, 1947 so 74 + years now with a Big 75th U.S.Air Force b-day coming up on the September date next year. 🙂

[@T--madefromstalinium]

No!Never!

[@lutcherkepple861]

@@T--madefromstalinium h in vb.

[@markporter2642]

My grandfather was a navigator on a B17. During one of his missions his plane took fire and shrapnel struck him on the forehead flooding his oxygen mask with blood. This forced him to remove his mask but at altitude he couldn't breathe and passed out. One of his crewmembers found him and thought he was dead but rather than let him go down with the plane through him out. Once he had fallen far enough to get some oxygen, he regained consciousness, found himself in free fall, and deployed his parachute. He landed in a German family's back yard. They rendered him first aid and were happy to do so as they explained that their son was a POW in England and had been treated well by the Brits. Eventually the Germans rounded him up and he spent the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft 3. Upon returning to the states, he went on to become a lawyer in San Antonio, TX until he died in 1991. They definitely deserve the title of "Greatest Generation"!

[@Chase_Crawford]

Wow!!

[@edwardduering5776]

Wow!

[@darylc9332]

That's incredible. Thank-you for his service.

[@honorkemp]

great to here his story keeping them remembered ,i live in England close to old b17 bases like Chelveston ,Poddington , to name a few

[@bradleysmith9431]

I bet he had the "falling" nightmare often after that. That would be horrifying.

[@miked7745]

"We are enemies, but I am first a doctor" I sincerely hope that doctor made it thru the war and enjoyed a life of peace afterwards.

[@TheSirStrazzen]

Exactly , it is as I try to say to any that will listen to my words since I am of Irish--German blood "" Not all Germans were Nazi's , and not all Nazi's were German" . Just look at the main character of the fantastic movie " Schindler's List ", Oskar Schindler. He was not German but Czech if memory serves me well tonight ? He is also , I believe , the only Non-Jewish person honored on their / Israel's "Walk of Life" {?}/ Edit: Ok, it was called the " Righteous Among the Nations ", and Oskar Schindler was the only active Member of the Nazi Party to be honored with that title and distinction.

[@sinisterisrandom8537]

@@TheSirStrazzen you also had the German called the "Good Doctor" who was anti nazi but continued to serve his job as a doctor.

[@johnvanegmond1812]

My father lived in the Netherlands during WW2. He said the average German fighting man (soldier) was a decent man. He never had good words for the SS though.

[@errorsystemloadfail7991]

@@TheSirStrazzen amogus

[@coling3957]

Flt/Sgt Nicholas Stephen Alkemade, had a similar story, he was rear-gunner on a RAF Lancaster named "Werewolf" in 1944 that was set on fire by a JU-88 night-fighter in raid over Berlin.. Alkemade found his parachute had been burned , and rather than go down in a burning bomber ; he jumped.. from about 18 000 ft..!! .. and landed without injury ( apart from a twisted knee ) on snow covered fir trees.. German captors at first couldn't believe his claim. but the Luftwaffe investigated and confirmed his story. The Germans even gave him a certificate of his action. Alkemade was made a pow for the remainder of the war. He lived until 1987.

[@NoSTs123]

almost more incredible

[@surferdude44444]

I remember that incident very well. Years and years ago, when I was in grade school, there was an article about him in my Weekly Reader magazine. It was entitled “I fell 18,000 feet and lived.” He made it sound like it was no big deal.......hit some snow covered branches and landed in a deep snow drift. Wow!

[@meanderingmarley3910]

@@surferdude44444 Wow. Weekly Reader. That brought back memories! (could've done without the "years and years ago" part, though). 🤨

[@abuyousufgallego7516]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHKsh3qioJJopas

[@colt-ss3lw]

@@meanderingmarley3910 I read this too, way - way back in 1960 something in 4th grade. My how time flies when you're having fun!

[@johnmeadows5645]

That is amazing. My nephew had the same kind of experience when he was at West Point. His parachute failed to open during training and he fell to earth, but survived with a broken back. He is now doing well, and living in Switzerland.

[@miked1765]

Praise God for his survival.

[@nvgboiyes6386]

Indeed praise god.

[@mantia39]

This is NOTHING short of a miracle. And the fact that the German doc was there ,and actually helped him adds to that.

[@janpost8598]

One of the things that might have contributed to his survival is the fact that he was unconscious. This way you are unable to brace for impact and your body is thus relaxed and much more able to absorb the impact without breaking tightened muscles and such. That said, this was an absolute miracle and incredible story. Glad I heard about it.

[@fuktrumpanzeeskum]

Falling from that height, survival is nothing but pure luck. What likely saved him is the fact that he never hit the ground.

[@walterfechter8080]

That bomber crewman not only had angels on both shoulders, but he also had angels all around him.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

I'd never heard of this one. But I know of the rear gunner who had a similar experience in a Lancaster. He landed in thich tree's and bushes which saved his life.

[@alanturner9609]

Simon Clarke you are correct. The story of a B 17 crewman doing this is a fabrication. The Lancaster tail gunner jumped because he thought that dying by hitting the ground was preferable to burning to death. He did indeed hit trees and landed in a snow drift. He was injured and the Germans picked him up. They accused him of being a spy because he had no parachute. Later when they inspected his aircraft they found the remains of his parachute still in its place in the rear of the aircraft.

[@kennyj4366]

Did the Lancaster’s fly at same altitudes (20K-28K Ft.)?

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

@@kennyj4366 according to Google 24,000 feet.

[@mojoneko8303]

Lucky guy. I'm surprised he ever got in an airplane ever again.. I read an account in a history book years ago of another WWII bomber crew member who survived falling from +20,000 feet without a parachute. He was the tail gunner on a bombing raid over Germany during winter. His plane took a direct hit to the bomb bay right after opening the bomb bay doors for the drop and blew the plane apart. He found himself falling to earth still in the tail section. He had no parachute on since the tail gunner position was too tight to wear one. It was stowed behind him and was lost from the explosion. He pushed himself out of the tail and was free falling and saw his burning parachute go by. He ended up falling through a stand of tall spruce trees and landed in deep snow that broke his fall. From what I remember he didn't sustain any major injuries. After the Germans captured him and took him to a prison camp, the German camp commander had a ceremony and gave him a medal.. : ) See if you can dredge up this story it would make a good episode for your channel. I think the book I read it in was on the history of the parachute but it was back in the 70's.. Thanks for the video!

[@johnvanegmond1812]

Nicholas Alkemade, RAF?

[@joeldavis1040]

Elmer

[@Walabrawonga]

His parachute was still in the plane as the Germans found it in the plane wreck. This is how they confirmed his story otherwise the Gestapo were gonna shoot him as a spy if he did not tell them where his parachute was buried. He had time to check on it while the plane was falling , but discovered that it was on fire in the place that it was stowed so he left the burning wreck and landed in 18 inches of snow under a load of pines that slowed his fall from 18000 feet. It seems that later on in his life he had a few more near death experiences. The Grim reaper just could catch this guy.

[@johnniethepom7545]

Cedar tree .

[@DavidJones-oc3up]

Wow!! Great story. Never heard this one before. I don’t have words to describe his survival. It’s a pity that he wasn’t about to thank the doctor who took care of him. Says a lot of good about his character too. Thanks for sharing this.

[@fastone942]

I spent a lot of years skydiving I’ve probably seen like 10 or 12 people go in and only one survived and that was a miracle in fact when I called the sheriffs office back to tell them to rush it he still alive they thought we were kidding

[@doradodude140]

you saw "GO IN"?

[@bradsanders407]

Uh what? You had 10 or 11 fatalities and people kept coming back?

[@fastone942]

@@bradsanders407 No I was was a skydiver and spend a lot of time at drop zones Zephyrhills is and still has been a very popular drop zone and keep in mine this was late 70s early 80s The transition from round canopies to square canopies was interesting and sometimes just accidents two people colliding and not wearing helmets both knocked out all the way to the ground most likely not hard when you jump out of a DC3 with 30 or 40 people in the air at one time or in some cases 2 or 3 planes there no little mistakes I think Zephyrhills in one year in the early 80s Zhills had like 25,000 jumps made and two people die and both where rookie at the sport one I think had 20 something jumps and remember no static line

[@hubriswonk]

I am a skydiver and I have seen 4 people go in, but only one with nothing out at all and I think that was a suicide. The sound of a body hitting the ground and the thud that goes along with it is impressive......and very sad.

[@thatguy7085]

My dad didn’t wear his flack jacket because it weighed too much with the parachute… he was hit with flack on a mission. He never said anything about getting hit to his command, but had the scars…. He didn’t say anything, because he didn’t want to get in trouble. He wore it from then on through his 35 missions.

[@Sonofdonald2024]

I recall the same thing happening to a Lancaster bomber gunner. Aircraft on fire and he couldn't reach his chute so jumped out. Think he landed in trees and snow drift and survived with minor injuries

[@sclogse1]

Way back there was a short film done of this with a wild background and an actor who screamed his head off, passed out, then woke up still falling and started screaming again. You could download the film. The background had bombers and zeppelins at Dutch angles which worked to add a crazed energy to it. Hope you find it.

[@thylacinenv]

Well presented, thankyou. This is a similar story to Nicholas Alkemade who deliberately jumped from a burning Lancaster as his parachute had been destroyed by fire, a forest and snowdrift saved him. Later in life he survived a chemical explosion and burning from acid, he was a born survivor.

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@tinchorb1340]

How high was the fall?

[@thylacinenv]

@@tinchorb1340 18,000ft. The Gestapo didn't believe him and we're going to shoot him as a spy but he kept insisting it was true. Eventually they found the Lancaster remains with the burnt parachute which saved Alkemade. The Germans had a ceremony by his bedside toasting the miracle of his survival, later he became something of a celebrity in the POW camp.

[@tinchorb1340]

@@thylacinenv incredible Thanks

[@DAUGHTEROFBABYLON]

@@thylacinenv That is Exactly what I call a "Happy ever After" tale, and I Love them! Thanks!

[@brokenbridge6316]

A very interesting story of survival. Shame Mcgee never learned about the doctor that saved his arm.

[@gsprasanna6382]

Lovely recreations ! I always enjoy happenings of World War 2 !

[@davidhimmelsbach557]

One tale told: a B-17 flying out of the 15th Air Force was cut in half by a newbie BF-109 pilot. The sole survivor being the tail-gunner. The shock knocked him out. When he came to, the tail was gliding backwards towards the earth. It landed so sweetly that he just walked out to daylight. He was captured, so it took quite a while for his tale to make the rounds. IIRC, he didn't even get a Purple Heart.

[@daleburrell6273]

...the Purple Heart is awarded for being INJURED- if you can walk away without a SCRATCH- it doesn't count!!!

[@andysnyder4506]

He never said he didn't suffer any injuries just that he was able to walk away.

[@daleburrell6273]

@@andysnyder4506 ...LET'S NOT SPLIT HAIRS-!!!

[@bramverkleij8844]

It clearly wasn't his time to die, someone from above was watching out for him. Great story.

[@ALSmith-zz4yy]

Unfortunately that "someone from above" didn't watch out for seven other crew members of that B-17 or the approximately 50 million other people who died in WW2.

[@stranraerwal]

@@ALSmith-zz4yy : well, I guess that "someone" was too busy with saving Allan Magee.

[@daleburrell6273]

@@ALSmith-zz4yy ...well, "ya can't please EVERYBODY!!"

[@ALSmith-zz4yy]

@@stranraerwal Or there was no "someone".

[@mdogg1604]

@@ALSmith-zz4yy Whether you like it or not, or agree with it or not, "Someone" does things His own way, in His own time. "Someone" doesn't owe me a damn thing, but chose to send His Son to deliver us from the perils we ALL suffer. Some much worse than others.

[@ssm726]

I´ve heard that a Lancaster tail-gunner experienced almost the same. He landed in some pine trees and deep snow

[@gregr.demarco4164]

Anyone who thinks God doesn’t help the helpless needs to see this. Amazing account of a true miracle.

[@dethray1000]

i bet you believe in santa claus too--shit happens,good or bad

[@shaggygabe728]

8:03 i love how he says "damage" like he's talking about aircraft

[@bobgreene2892]

Excellent work using both simulations and archival footage. We completely understand actual events cannot be tracked archivally, but you certainly were close in the footage you found, which indicates good research. The detailed conclusion was equally thorough-- you quoted what the German doctor said to McGee after capture, and what became of McGee after WW2. Well done-- we subscribed.

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@TJ3]

Thanks for watching guys! Obviously there were some challenges I had to overcome with the visuals of this video. (No B-17s in my flight sim, Very few actual images of this event, And they don't have the option for bodies to fly through glass roofs in my games lol). But I did my best! Hope you guys enjoy and appreciate you supporting me as I get sponsors to support my content :)

[@adirondacker007]

I was wondering how the TBF came into play. :) Your video called to mind a book I have. War Pilot by Richard Kirkland recounts the author witnessing a B-25 crash in the Pacific. A crew member fell out of the (inverted) bomber and landed on a tent before it crashed. Highly recommend the book.

[@graybice4069]

Fantastic video. Excellent work in bringing this story forward to all of us. Thanks a million. 👍

[@abuyousufgallego7516]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHKsh3qioJJopas

[@russellnodder9626]

Look up Harry Dennison of North Bay Ontario Canada, AKA as No Chute

[@donnhughes7139]

it was excellent !!

[@TM-tw1py]

He probably got better medical care than most patients in the states today.

[@daleburrell6273]

...WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?!!

[@tigerseye73]

You provided a great simulation of the event even without actual footage. This was really good.

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@rayladurini1045]

Check out the 303rd bombardment group. The b17 called Duffys Tavern. My uncle was a radioman on board that plane when it blew up. Only 2 people survived. One was blown out of the plane without his parachute and survived the fall.

[@stevenbrereton979]

I live not far from where your uncle's B17 crashed. If you watch the 1985 British comedy movie "Clockwise " starring John Cleese, there is a scene about half way through where John sits on the roadside grass verge with a girl, right by a triangular road sign. This is the exact spot the centre section and cockpit of the B17 came down on the road. Whenever l drive on that particular road l spare a thought for your uncle and his crew mates and will visit the crash site in November on the 80th Anniversary, they are not forgotten in Shropshire.

[@SuperUAP]

As an Internet prince with a doctorate in fish proctology.. I am qualified to say this man must have fallen out of an airplane, that was in the air. 😅

[@randallshughart]

I live next to Saint Nazaire in France, and i'm so glad this architectural feature savec this gentleman. I'm also an OIF veteran.

[@madetv1647]

I can't believe there's no Interviews with this man on KZbin... What an Amazing Story!!

[@honorkemp]

incredible to survive with such minor injuries ,many people would come off worse from tripping over a kerb.

[@ianb4801]

Big oversight here. Yes, there were U-boat pens there, but they were at a number of other places too, like Brest. But the Normandy Dock was there too - the only dry dock facility south of England that was capable of handling Qermany's biggest battleships - Bismarck, Tirpitz, Scharnhorst...

[@KyleCowden]

We finally catch a glimpse of the chad responsible for all of his. I had heard about a ball turret gunner that the entire rig fell out of the B-17 as it was limping back to the field. Something like 400-1000 feet and as he was trapped, he bounced along the ground like a bowling ball and was extricated with a few "minor" fractures. That's where I thought this was going. What an amazing and moving story. Once again, TJ3 History delivers content that should make the History Channel ashamed of what they've become.

[@TJ3]

Thanks Kyle!

[@NickDanger0001]

It's not even the hitler channel any more.

[@ColKorn1965]

History Channel needs an enema.( I thought I was the only one who noticed it was "Those evil Nazis!!!!" Channel"

[@KyleCowden]

@@ColKorn1965 Haha. We used to call it the nazi channel when we were deciding what to have on in the bunk room at the station. It was like, "What do you want on?" The answer was usually, "Eh, let's watch the nazi channel."

[@johnsammon1523]

@@NickDanger0001 w

[@ScienceFan1859]

My uncle was a pilot for the USMC in a non-combat role of “leatherneck airlines” flying ViPs around here and there. Maybe a story there.

[@brianbennett5887]

Amazing story, please tell us about the airman that landed on a church steeple and then in deep snow and also survived.

[@redskull9671]

Hey man you deserve more support I hope more people are interested in aviation.

[@hackcult3738]

I just found his channel and it’s top notch. Better than the history channel lol.

[@beboboymann3823]

Save some time and fast forward to 6:00. There you will get the story of the airman falling.

[@bystander1489]

It doesn't matter because a body reaches terminal velocity after about 12 seconds so the speed that a body falls at is the same as 3000 ft or 5000 ft but I remember reading about this in the comic victor as a kid and it is an amazing story as there were quite a few who survived high falls

[@sid2112]

That monument is wonderful.

[@roymiller3018]

Several references were to using the United States Air Force, the USAF did not exist until 1947. During this war the Army Air Corp was the correct term.

[@johndoogan3712]

Hi, the doctor's name is the missing piece of this story and with the passage of time may never be found. The world hopes that someone kept a diary, perhaps a nurse or someone knew his name, perhaps someone has a letter, maybe the doctor's family holds the answer? It is only by searching through boxes etc nearly 80 years later which may finally fill in the missing piece of the story.

[@jerrywilbur7020]

There's another instance of free fall survival in the Alps around Italy I think. The guy lived cause he landed on such a steep and snowy slope that his impacted was kind of redirected I guess. The book Bomber Boys is where I've read that story. Great video!!!

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@alspille5867]

I believe that airman in the Alps was my neighbor, Cooper Bryant, in Jackson, Mississippi. He fell into a snow bank head first with his legs being spread apart so far he tore his groin area. He woke up in a POW hospital of sorts and spent the rest of the war a POW. His wife only knew he was missing until after the war. They had a daughter and he was a successful oil and gas investor. He was very nice.

[@matthewh4747]

@@alspille5867 He ripped apart his groin and still had kids? Even a plane crash can’t break balls of steel that big.

[@oscarwildeghost]

I would have been many, many pounds lighter during my fall and floated to earth like a feather at the end. Skid marks indeed!

[@LamontBentin]

Salute that German who said we are enemies but I’m s doctor first . I think it’s the fact that respect and awe was given to a man who obviously fell that high and far without a chute and still alive some way

[@michaelleblanc7283]

TJ3 History - Have a follow up story for you. Back in the '90s I did a very, very deep dive into air operations for the night of 24/25 May 1944 - A Halifax raid in Aachen East RR yards & a Lanc raid on the West yards an hour or so later. One of the Halifax crew had their 'kite' blow up close to the target on their approach. The RG 'came to' in his gun-turret as German soldiers dragged him out of it and into their post very nearby. They left him there when the 2nd raid happened to get to their bomb shelters and then returned when it was all over to start him on his way to a pow camp. If the details of this 'first-hand' account and it's veracity interest you, please leave a message indicating where it can be sent.

[@TJ3]

I'll look it over! May or may not use it but feel free to send it to [e-mail]

[@michaelleblanc7283]

@@TJ3 Must dig out those old files - will pass something on within a few days.

[@Shogun459]

I remember reading this story when I was a kid. He wasn't the only aviator from WWII that survived such a fall.

[@mikeamico6763]

Without a doubt he was carried down by the Angels it was not his turn to die. That's incredible what happened to him

[@LowBrandon]

Bro has some seriously tough skin armour to withstand such force of impact. Truly a miracle.

[@BrianDHoefs]

I have a book I read about a WW2 tail gunner that fell 4 miles out of the sky in the tail end of his B17. The title of the book is, Tailspin. A very good book.

[@agustingonzalez3878]

Back in the sixties I read a story like this one, except that he fell onto a tree that was covered in snow, then landed onto more snow. When he was captured he was nearly executed because the Germans thought he had buried his parachute as a spy would. From his hospital bed he directed them to search his downed plane where they found his chute which had been burned rather than shot. This was how his story was verified. Is this the same distorted story, or did it happen twice?

[@robertbruce1887]

A truly miraculous story! I love the first class response by the Germans, especially the doctor. I'm sure Magee would have loved to personally thank that doctor after surviving but sadly wasn't able to. This story is a great companion piece to the Dark Docs video about the R.A.F. Lancaster tail gunner, who with his plane on fire including his parachute, decided on a quick painless death by jumping out at 18,000 ft.,! He awoke sitting on about 18" of snow on top of shrubs & deducted that falling through the tall pine trees had slowed his fall, which resulted in minimal injuries. The Germans didn't believe him at first, but upon discovery of his downed Lancaster & burned parachute, believed him & were impressed. Also, you could look into New Zealand Spitfire pilot Al "9 lives" Deere, who l believe survived 7? crashes, including a head-on mid-air collision with a Bf 109.( l believe, if not mistaken, he hit the top of the 109). Of course, there are probably many more miracle stories from WW2, especially in the air war. Thank you for a great video., cheers

[@OrdnanceLab]

Great and informative video. Keep them coming.

[@TJ3]

Thanks man!

[@FINNIUSORION]

There's a guy in guiness world records who's survived multiple falls without a parachute. Something like 3 or 4 times.

[@thetassieriders7226]

That was my great great great grandfather

[@envitech02]

Amazing story!!! Simply incredible!!

[@alanthurley6061]

A very interesting and informative video, it just goes to show the bravery and the self sacrifice of the American airmen during WW2.We should be eternally grateful to them. Alan/Merseyside England 🇬🇧.

[@moistmike4150]

There's a story of a Russian PE-8 gunner who bailed out of his burning plane around 20 thousand feet up without his chute. He landed in a snow drift on a hillside and survived. I think he had a broken arm for his trouble.

[@webleypug]

Moist Mike - I'd heard many years ago of a Russian airman who fell from a great height. He apparently landed almost at the peak of a snow covered mountain & slid down the side (much like the 1972 Andes passenger plane did in "Alive") & survived. Perhaps the story you related is the same one I had heard about.

[@niblack11]

The stories podcast brought tears to my eyes

[@BeachsideHank]

I seem to recall incidents during WWII of airmen bailing out without parachutes who actually survived- others were oftentimes entrapped within aircraft sections and surviving. I remember a Russian pilot holding the record after being separated from his aircraft sans parachute and surviving a freefall it was 23,000 feet, a link here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Chisov

[@mranti71]

I'm sorry for being pedantic but Germany invaded France on May the 10th 1940.Operation Barbarossa (Invasion of Soviet Union) was in 1941.

[@wallybrown9509]

Amazing story. Thank you for your quality, amazing work.

[@stevefarms7494]

I could never imagine the fear of falling 20000ft knowing your fate at the end only to wake up alive .. that unheard of.. what the odds of surviving the fall ?

[@GregPalmer1000]

Germany invaded France in 1940 not 1941...for example the evacuation of Dunkirk of over 300,000 British & French forces was in May 1940...

[@codystout5353]

I read about this in the 6th or 7th grade. I always wondered if it was true or just a story that was passed down through the years.

[@od1452]

I read of this. My cousin knew a Navigator that jumped out of his burning B 17 without a cute. He landed in a forest the trees breaking his fall . He was patched up by the astounded Germans and survived the war as a POW. .

[@robertschweppenhauser9891]

The German doctor was the hero.

[@SuperUAP]

00:05:32 What you came for, please 🥺 like 👍 for everyone to enjoy. 😊

[@tonygagey]

Nicholas Stephen Alkemade (10 December 1922 - 22 June 1987) was a British tail gunner in the Royal Air Force during World War II who survived a freefall of 18,000 feet (5,490 m) without a parachute after abandoning his out-of-control, burning Avro Lancaster heavy bomber over Germany.

[@hectatusbreakfastus6106]

People count this to a stroke of luck. Yet every "lucky" survival story usually has a petition to God for help before hand and then a miracle happens which leads to their survival. No matter how you look at it, it's incredible.

[@jimmyhaley727]

you will find FEW atheists in a dire situation/fire fights, etc.

[@doctyler5382]

Hence the phrase "there are no atheists in foxholes" 😇

[@markpaul8178]

@@jimmyhaley727 Jimmy,that is the truest statement that I have ever heard,and I am 60 yrs old brother.

[@lethauntic]

Why do you speak as though its proof? Or rather, that people who say that it's "luck" are being dismissive of such. Very obviously people, not all are even religious, tend to pray, or "petition". I'd say that you're attributing evidence where there is none or that can easily be attributed to coincidence, but that's exactly why this is an impossible argument either way. Nonetheless I do completely agree how miraculous what that man went through was.

[@doctyler5382]

@@lethauntic The question is how many people petitioned God and didn't get a miracle? 🤔 Even a broken clock is right twice a day...😜

[@seventhson27]

On the flip side, my uncle flew B24's. 2 missions over Berlin. Only lost one man the whole time. A Cameraman who was along for the ride. He was leaning out over the bomb bay when anti-aircraft went off nearby and knocked the cameraman out the bomb bay. 18,000 ft up. Surrounded by bombs. Talk about being royally sc***ed. He didn't survive.

[@dougspindler4947]

He was just one of many who fell/jumped out of a plane without a parachute and survived the fall.

[@idahopotato5837]

Thank God! Thanks for your service WWII Vets.

[@98-24]

That was incredible, Thanks for sharing!!!

[@gb5uq]

The B17 had a serious design flaw which made oxygen fires an ever present danger. Many aircraft and crews were lost as a result.

[@dukeman7595]

God answered sergeant Magee's prayer amen...

[@marinabrennecke5495]

I know also a story from a bomber crew member. I jumped out of the bomber without his parachute because his parachute was useless. He fall through the brenches of tree in high snow and survive.

[@karlreimers]

Hey, German doctor saved his life!

[@steverobbins4274]

2 stories stick out in my mind. 1: a tail gunner seriously wounded and the plane disintegrated leaving him in the tail that by fluke was air worthy and glided to the ground with its occupant. He was found alive by the Germans but died shortly after. 2: A British POW who was captured by the japanese. survived 2 sinkings by allied subs and was at Hiroshima when someone made a bit of a large bang.

[@charlessedlacek5754]

My god...somebody had this guy's back that day.

[@michaelwhisman7623]

A meant an American Sniper who survived hitting the ground from a plane with no parachute and bouncing like a rubber ball. He lost his leg but stayed in the army and was a sniper in vietnam. He killed a turncoat American Code Named Pepper.

[@cwavt8849]

If I had to choose something to break my free fall, a glass roof would be Way down on the list. Great video. You've just earned yourself a subscriber 👏👍

[@died4us590]

That was a miracle for certain. I nearly died three time's, and i know that miracles happen. My grandpa was a medic, and was at the invasion of Normandy. He was sitting on a bucket smoking a cigarette one day, and was deciding whether to go get his work rounds done, or relax awhile longer because he had just done a long stretch with no sleep. He decided to go finish his rounds, and left the bucket as a new young recruit took his place. Less than five minutes from getting up, they were bombed, and the young recruit who took his place, was blown to pieces. My grandpa always said to me, do what you have to do, instead of what you want to do, and you will be okay in this life as long as you have faith in Christ. G-d bless everyone.

[@Annur375]

Wow! What a fantastic story of survival. God definitely heard this request.

[@tony9305]

Holy crap! What a story of survival.

[@robiandolo]

Correction not the American Air Force - the Army Air Corp. Air Force was created after the war.

[@markhughes7927]

Great story - two men and faith.

[@marksummers463]

Hand of God.

[@jimdavies6764]

So that was a time when doctors had true integrity.

[@daleburrell6273]

...doctors stuck to the "Hippocratic Oath".

[@robinrodriguez480]

WOW some guys are just lucky like that !!! Incredible story !!!

[@jaywalker3087]

There was an RAF tail gunner that was blown free of the plane when it blew up. Winter , over Germany , his war was over, and falling without a parachute, at night , his future didn't look good. He landed in a pine forest crashing through branches and straight into a snow drift . His flying boots had been ripped off and when he was ready, he started walking. Hours later he gave himself up to two woodsman. He was taken to the town hall to await the military. He was asked about where he had buried his parachute . They didn't believe his story and demanded him to take them to the spot he landed ,still without boots . He became a POW and survived the war.

[@secretagent86]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video. subscribed

[@Albisriede]

Back in the 60s I read of another miraculous 'no parachute' fall of an American airman in a German illustrated magazine. This one happened in a rural area of Germany. That airman fell into a (pine ? ) tree so perfectly that one side of the tree lost every one of its branches, softening the fall. The magazine article showed photos of the airman on a visit some 20 years after the event. If I recall correctly farmers found the man and provided transportation to a hospital. The life-saving tree still stood with most of its branches missing, but newer ones in place near its top. Perhaps you can find out who that lucky guy was.

[@daverunner3397]

To say he had a broken shoulder back neck knee would be an understatement.

[@netherwolves3412]

Hell yeah!!! This video is going to be great!

[@FlexBeanbag]

kzbin.infoBmc9NFfhx74?feature=share

[@RivetGardener]

Sometimes the Hand Of God takes place into your life. It did once in mine.

[@Airbornefighter-hr7lt]

When events like this happen, even if you are not a believer in a higher entity, you would be immediately converted.

[@rogerdavies6226]

I heard of a similar story about a flight crew member who fell some tremendous distance into a forest of fir trees and it being winter, onto a deep snowbank. Sorry all I can remember

[@oleriis-vestergaard6844]

And the british Lancaster rear - turret Gunner who fell 10000meter and landed on a tree and slided down to earth and only broken his one leg - Lucky guy indeed

[@jangler007]

I like the one better where the belly gunner crash landed with the two huge yellow cartoon wheels, saving his life.

[@toms641]

@ 3:23 ...U.S. Airforce. Hmm The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight ... was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947. Before that date it was called U.S. Army Air Corps.