baled out at supersonic speed was released to the Press

by the Air Ministry? If so, why was the Ministry apparently

unaware that at least one, and probably two, American pilots

had ejected at supersonic speeds and survived the ordeal? So far

as I know, no reference was made in British newspapers to the

American escapes, one involving a Grumman Cougar and the

other a North American F-100.

One is led to infer that the Air Forces concerned are slow to

exchange information on such incidents. Surely this is wrong.

There is nothing to be lost, and a great deal to be gained, from

an international sharing of all experiences yielding data on problems

of survival at high speeds and altitudes. Publication of such

data in the aeronautical Press (subject to normal security .regulations)

is also to be recommended, as a means of ensuring that

survival information reaches squadron aircrews without delay,

instead of filtering slowly through "official channels."

London, W.I. ROGER BAKER.

the emergency hydraulic hand-pump.

This was cleared and Bates successfully

baled out.

Hewitt then ejected with his knee

pressed against the control column to hold

it forward against the trim force till the

last second. He cleared the aircraft easily,

but through the stress of the preceding

efforts to clear Bates, he made the mistake

of pulling his parachute rip-cord before

releasing his seat harness. The seat

drogue-line at once became entangled in

the parachute rigging lines. Hewitt drew

his knife and cut the drogue line, but

the main canopy had been torn and he

then had to cut away a piece of parachute

which was covering his face. Finally, very

late in the descent, he was clear and falling

fast under the torn parachute. He

landed heavily in a ploughed field but

sustained no serious injury.

Meanwhile, Taylor's descent had not

been entirely trouble-free; after releasing

his seat harness, he found the seat falling

close alongside him. By kicking hard he

managed to move it away enough to allow

safe opening of his parachute.

Bates' descent was normal. Leigh failed

to release himself  from the seat and lost

his life.

S/L. Hewitt later received a Bar to his

A.F.C., the citation commending his

"leadership in this dire emergency, and his

display of coolness and exceptional

courage in the face of grave danger . . ."