Bomber crew equipment5/27/2023 ![]() The Caterpillar Club is an informal Association of people who have successfully used a Parachute to bail out of a disabled Aircraft. By the time they succeeded, the War was virtually over. ORS were so concerned re the Lancaster hatches, that they campaigned for 2 years to change them. (ii) On Lancaster VII there are 2 push-out panels in the roof, one above the Pilot and one just forward of the rear spar. 977 (which moves the mid-upper turret forward) is incorporated, in which case the 3rd panel is deleted, III and X, 3 push-out panels are fitted in the roof (one above the Pilot, one just forward of the rear spar, and one forward of the Mid-upper Turret) except when Mod. It can also be opened from outside the aircraft. It opens inwards and is secured by a clip which holds the hatch up on the Starboard side. 1336 is incorporated the hatch is enlarged and is opened by a handle at the Port side. Parachute Exit Hatch in floor of nose should be used by all members of Crew if time is available originally it was released by a handle in the centre, lifted inwards and jettisoned, but when Mod. On most versions, there’s one between main and trailing spar in the centre section and one just in front of the Mid-upper turret, and the one over the Pilot. The Upper hatches on the Lancaster Fuselage are Ditching/escape hatches and not Parachute exits. A clear understanding of the obstacles to escape, such as the main spar, would help the crew to react instinctively and correctly in a crisis. Knowing the interior layout could mean the difference between life and death during an emergency evacuation of the aircraft. The importance of these items is shown here, as the ‘J’ Type Mk III Dinghy is described in close-up detail including an illustration of where the equipment is stored in the dinghy. It was important to show the crew where the fuel valves were in order to extinguish engine fires, but perhaps the 2 most important items of safety equipment were the aircrew’s parachutes and dinghy. The colour codes used for safety equipment showed crews where each piece of emergency equipment was located and which items were to be used together. Cutaway drawings were heavily used, as they gave a clear view of the interior of the aircraft, and showed where equipment could be found. The RAF made much use of their 4-engined heavy bombers during the WW2, and material was produced to train the 7-man crews.
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