Bailing out of a Short Sunderland?

[Larry]

Did any crewmember in WW2 ever land safely after bailing out of a Short Sunderland?

I had a look at this:

http://uboat.net/history/aircraft_losses.htm

Does not look likely.

[rafcommands]

Yes,

Sgt O F George and he did it without a parachute.

Regards
Ross

[Larry]

I'd be interested in this incident; previously I have been told that the Sunderland was almost impossible to leave by parachute but I suppose there was no point if it was over the Atlantic with no ships in sight to pick up the survivors

[rafcommands]

Hi Larry,

From my RAF Coastal Command Losses:

09/04/1940

L2167

Took off to examine the Oslo area. Attacked by two Me110s of I/ZG76 over Fornebu at about 15:00 hrs and caught fire over Holsfjorden before finally exploding over Maidalen, Norway. The Sunderland was claimed by Oblt Hansen in Me110 M8+JH but Lt H Lent was also involved. Sgt George survived being blown out of the aircraft at 3,000 feet without a parachute and fell into deep snow. The remaining crewmen including Sgt Carpenter, an Australian from Sydney, and P/O Le Maistre, a Canadian from Winnipeg, rest in Sylling Churchyard, Norway.

Ross

[Chris Goss]

Not as such a baling out but a forced exit? Ulrich Hansen (St Kap) & Helmut Lent were 1/ZG 76 by the way

[Graham Boak]

I think this may be more a factor of the operational use rather than the Sunderland itself. How many successful bale-outs were achieved from Coastal Command Catalinas, Halifaxes or Liberators? Operating at low-level, as Sunderlands did generally, particularly if attacked by fighters, would make baling out unlikely to succeed. As far as factors specific to the type are concerned, the enclosed flight deck would make it difficult for the crew working their to escape, but this is common to almost all transport/multi types. Other internal positions would have access to the side doors - like all flying boats, the Sunderland lacked escape hatches on the floor such as in the Halifax.

However RAF rear turrets could be swung to the side letting the gunner fall/bale out of the opened rear doors, and I don't know why that would be different on the Sunderland. This could be more a matter of how the gunner kept his parachute.