B-24H Bail Out Procedure

[udf_00]

AD LIB: Flying The B-24 Liberator in World War II, by William Carrigan
Ch. 7, Bailout and ditching, pp 67-68
"...
2. Pilot directs navigator or bombardier to open the bomb-bay doors and jettison bombs (careful, baby, bombs in Safe) to provide clearance from
jumping; navigator will open the nose-wheel hatch by pulling down on the two red handles at station 1.0 on the cross-member under navigator's
table; tail-gunner opens belly hatch. These are the three best bail-out exits...
5. Order and method of leaving the aicraft:
a. Navigator, bombardier and nose-turret gunner leave the aircraft by the nose-wheel hatch, one after the other, facing front of the ship,
crouching near opening with hands on each side and lunging headfirst and forward.
b. Tail-gunner leaves from the belly hatch followed by left waist-gunner, by crouching facing the front of the airplane,
and lunging headfirst and forward through the hatch.
c. Ball-turret gunner and right waist-gunner leave through the rear bomb-bay; flight-engineer, radio-operator, copilot and pilot all leave
in that order through the bomb bay, crouching on the catwalk facing the front of the airplane and lunging headfirst and as much forward as
possible.
Warning: it is extremely important in all cases to face the front of the B-24 and lunge out and forward headfirst.
The airplane is travelling fast and if you jump toward the rear there is danger of being slapped up against the airplane.
If you jump feet first, the wind can catch your legs and bang your head on the edge of the hatch.
If the airplane is in a turn or a spin, lunge toward the inside."