Imagine yourself in this setting...

[oboe]

I think this painting by Gil Cohen is superb in the way it captures the desperation of the moment and the overwhelming forces of the elements.  Imagine what this crew went through moments before as the pilots fought with the ship as they tried to ditch in a rough sea.  Now begins the struggle for the the survivors to get out, deploy the rafts and climb aboard.   I can almost feel the soaking cold wetness and the power of the wind and sea.
 
All I can think is "Jeez!"



Don't forget, "Masters of the Air" is due out mid-Spring on Apple TV. 

[Shuffler]

Raft seems awful small for all those fellas.

[Eagler]

Cool print but not sure how they would have ditched successfully in seas like that

Eagler

[UpMaKilt]

Cool print but not sure how they would have ditched successfully in seas like that

Eagler

Aircraft is Heavenly Body of the 385th BG so you can read about it

[Pixelazer]

Jeez, indeed. Bailing out of your plane is an act of pure desperation.


(Pictured: The pilot of an Fw-190 bailing out, as seen from a gun camera of another aircraft. He must've been in real trouble to jump while getting shot at!)