Crew procedures for ditching

Crew procedures for ditching

Procedures for all seven crew positions for ditching stations, exit and order of leaving aircraft, order of boarding dinghies, actions before ditching and action immediately aircraft comes to halt after ditching.

Four page typewritten document

This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.

MCruickshankG629128-150428-29

[underlined] CREW PROCEDURE [/underlined]

DITCHING STATIONS
PILOT
In Pilot’s seat at controls. Safety harness secured
Plugged on i/c to F/E and M/U/G
FLIGHT ENGINEER
Seated on floor aft of main spar, centrally next to Nav. back against the bulkhe add[sic] door, braced, with legs well bent supporting A/B’s back, hands clasped behind head plugged in on i/c.
NAVIGATOR
Seated on floor aft of front main spar, to starboard, back against bulkhead door. Braced with legs well bent supporting F/E’s back, hands clasped be[missing letters] head.
W/OPERATOR
Seated at W/OP’s seat. Safety harness secured. Parachute pack against W/T set. Braced with right hand gripping strengthening post and left hand against supports. (convenient)
AIR BOMBER
Seated on floor aft of front spar, back against Nav’s and F/E’s knees. Braced with feet against rear main spar and hands clasped behind head.
M-UPPER GUNNER
Seated on floor aft of rear main spar, to port, facing aft, back against rear main spar, feet on flap jack, and hands clasped behind head. Plugged in on i/c.
REAR GUNNER
Seated on floor aft of rear main spar, to starboard facing atf back against rear main spar, braced with feet against flap jack and hands clasped behind head.

EXITS AND ORDER OR FEAVING AIRCRAFT.
PILOT
First through cockpit roof hatch.
FLIGHT ENGINEER
Second through mid-upper escape hatch.
NAVIGATOR
Third through mid-upper escape hatch.
W/OPERATOR
Second through cockpit roof hatch.
AIR BOMBER
First through m-upper escape hatch.
M-UPPER GUNNER
Fourth through mid-upper escape hatch.
REAR GUNNER
Fifth through mid-upper escape hatch.
ORDER OF BOARDING DINGHIES.
PILOT
Last (4th.) into “J” type dinghy
FLIGHT ENGINEER
1st. into “H” type dinghy.
NAVIGATOR
3rd. into “H” type dinghy.
W/OPERATOR
Second into “J” type dinghy.
AIR BOMBER
First into “J” type dinghy.
M-UPPER GUNNER
Second into “H”type dinghy.
REAR GUNNER
Third into “J” type dinghy.
ACTION BEFORE DITCHING.
PILOT
[a] Orders “Dinghy, Dinghy” prepare for ditching and flashes D.D.D. on call light. Gives estimated time before ditching. Reduces speed, lowers flaps 1/3, jettisons bombs and fuel. Checks security of safety harness. Undoes Parachute harness, Checks radio drill is being carried out. Give Distress call on R/T. Calls out heights to crew.
[b][blank]
[c] Warns W/OP “Ditching imminent” by flashing on call light, calls out heights, switches on landing lights as necessary. Warns crew “Brace Brace” (Disconnects i/c).
FLIGHT ENGINEER
[a] Acknowledges “F/E ditching”. Removes parachute harness. Assists pilot when necessary. Jettisons cockpit roof cover.
[b] Moves aft following A/B to ditching station taking K dinghy and/or parachute. plugs in on i/c and takes up ditching position. Partially inflate “Mae West”.
[c] Shouts “Brace Brace” on receiving instructions from pilot. (Disconnects i/c.) Braces.
NAVIGATOR
[a] [underlined] DITCHING PROCEDURE [/underlined]
Acknowledges/”Nav ditching”. Warns W/OP Passes W/S and D to pilot. Passes distress message to W/OP.
[b] Removes Parachute harness Follows F/E aft to ditching station taking K dinghy and/or parachute. Closes and secures bulkhead door. Takes up ditch position. Partially inflates “Mae West”.
[c] Braces.
W/OPERATOR
[a] Acknowledges “W/OP ditching” Carries out appropriate Distress procedure. Checks security of Safety harness. Gives ext. Lead to A/B. Removes parachute harness.
[b] Continuous distress procedure. partially inflates “Mae West”.
[c] Transmit aircraft [missing letters]s. clamps key. Disconnects i/c) Places parachute back against W/T set. Braces.
AIR BOMBER
[a] Acknowledges “A/B ditching”. Removes parachute harness. checks parachute emergency exit is secure. Moves aft taking “K” dinghy and/or parachute. Takes axe. Helps W/OP to secure safety harness. Places a parachute pack within easy reach of W/OP. Takes ext. lead from W/OP and passes it to M/U/G. Jettisons mid-upper escape hatch cover.
[b] Takes up ditching position partially inflates “Mae West”.
[c] Braces.
M-UPPER GUNNER
[a] Acknowledges “M/U/G ditching”. Rotates turret pointing guns aft. Leaves turret and removes safety harness. moves to ditching station taking “K” dinghy and/or parachute and takes ext. lead from A/B
[b] Establishes i/c with pilot. Takes up ditching position partially inflates “Mae West”.
[c] Shouts “Brace Brace” on receiving instructions from the pilot. (Disconnects i/c). Braces.
REAR GUNNER
[a] Acknowledges “R/G ditching”. Leaves turret and removes parachute harness. Takes “K”dinghy and/or parachute to D position.
[b] Takes up ditching position partially inflates “Mae West”.
[c] Braces.
[page break]
ACTION IMMEDIATELY AIRCRAFT COMES TO REST AFTER DITCHING.
PILOT
Releases safety harness. Leaves a/c. Inflates “Mae West”. Moves along fuselage top to starboard wing and supervises. Throws “K” dinghy packs and parachute packs into dinghies. When all crew have boarded the dinghies boards “J” dinghy himself and gives order to cut painter. Casts off.
FLIGHT ENGINEER
Follows A/B out of A/C throwing out “K” pack and parachute pack. Inflates “Mae West”. Receives “H” dinghy valise from Nav. and throws it into the water. Checks inflation. Assists where necessary. Boards “H” dinghy and stands by to cut painter.
NAVIGATOR
Removes “H” type dinghy valise from stowage and hands to F/E. throws out packs and leaves after F/E. inflates “Mae West”. Rece[missing letters] No. 6 supply pack from M/U/G and p[missing letters] it to F/E. Boards “H” dinghy and c[missing letters] for leaks.
W/OPERATOR
Releases safety harness and follows pilot out of aircraft. Inflates “Mae West” moves along fuselage to starboard wing. Boards J dinghy, Checks dinghy radio and emergency pack from stowage.
AIR BOMBER
Throws out lifeline to starboard through mid-upper escape hatch. Leaves A/C with axe. Inflates “Mae West” goes on to starboard wing and assists J dinghy from stowage. Boards J dinghy and checks equipment in and looks for leaks. Stands by to cut painter.
M-UPPER GUNNER
Removes No. 6 pack from stowage and passes it up to Nav. Leaves a/c after Nav throwing out “K” and parachute packs. Boards “K” dinghy. Assists where necessary.
REAR GUNNER
Operates dinghy manual release Follows M/U/g out of a/c, throwing “K” a[missing letters] parachute pack[missing letters] as possible.
Inflates “Mae West”. Boards “J” Dinghy.
Assists where necessary.