Thats Gotta Hurt!!!

[Jack Cook]

[daveymac82c]

That's what I call a really bad day. My goodness. I worry about the pilot of that plane.

-David

[warbird1]

Did the pilot survive?

[ww2John]

or at least leave one heck of a mark...

[maxum96]

I'm guessing that was a fatal.

[Michel Lemieux]

I'm guessing that was a fatal.

The way the whole fuselage front section just smashed into the cockpit

Must have been quick however. Horribly sad.

It must not have been is only ordeal....where are the wings ?

[Jack Cook]

I believed the pilot survived with injuries. If I recall correctly
he unlocked his shoulder harness and ducked under the instrument
panel.

[skybolt2003]

I believed the pilot survived with injuries. If I recall correctly
he unlocked his shoulder harness and ducked under the instrument
panel.

where'd the stick go?

[51fixer]

I believed the pilot survived with injuries. If I recall correctly
he unlocked his shoulder harness and ducked under the instrument
panel.

I doubt it on the unlocked seat belt..
He might have dropped his seat to the lowest point on the rails and survived.
Even if the fus didn't break, unlocking the seat belt would allow your face to impact the gun sight or the instrument panel when the crash occurred.
The thing to realize is that the pilot is focused on flying. Hand on throttle and stick. When something goes bad you are still trying to fly out of the situation. The time you have to let go of the throttle or stick and flip a handle to unlock the shoulder harness or drop the seat lower is limited to a fraction of a second.
There is also a 200 + gal fuel tank between the engine/firewall and the cockpit. Seeing the flames start up there is a real bad sign.
This pic looks like things are still in motion. Did the fus or wreckage stay in this position or fall down?
Rich

[Jack Cook]

Just repeating what I was told. I may have another shot in the sequence.
I landed right side up on the flight deck.

[gregv]

At the risk of sounding macabre, is that not the pilot visible in between where the cockpit used to be and the windscreen, with his right arm immediately to the front of the canopy? Or perhaps it is some other part of the aircraft, I hope...

Interesting photo, amazing how the action was captured in progress; I hope this one had a happy ending.

cheers

greg v.

[KRM_Bear]

CVE?

[Jack Cook]

CVE?

Yes

[planeoldsteve]

Combustible Vulnerable Expendable (slang definition for CVE, Escort Carrier)

Steve

[Robbie Stuart]

WTF, If he got out that deal, that is a wondermont. It looks like that is the oil tank that is exploding, it will all turn to a world of sh-t after that.
Robbie