Crazy-ass stuff!!

Skogen · Post by **Skogen** » September 12, 2003, 1:04 pm

http://www.parachutehistory.com/other/bonusday.html

Vesna Vulovic
Jan. 26, 1972: Twenty-two year old, Vesna Vulovic, was a flight attendant on Yugoslav Airlines DC-9 enroute from Stockholm to Belgrade. A bomb, planted by Croatian terrorists, exploded onboard when the aircraft was at 33,330 ft. Vulovic was in the tail section that fell to Earth. It landed at just the right angle on a slope of snow covered mountains.
Rescue operations commenced immediately. Vulovic was severely injured. She broke both her legs and was paralyzed from the waist down. She was in a coma for 27 days. Her recovery took 17 months. She continued to fly with Yugoslav Airlines for 20 more years.

Vulovic returned to the accident scene on Jan 27, 1997. She met her rescuers and placed memorial flowers at the monument for the others that died.

All others on board perished.

Jaxomer · Post by **Jaxomer** » September 12, 2003, 1:32 pm

Wow, what a stroke of luck!

Skogen · Post by **Skogen** » September 12, 2003, 1:42 pm

or this one:

Nick Alkemade
March 23, 1944: Nick Alkemade of the Royal Air Force survived a chuteless jump. He was a tail gunner in an AVRO Lancaster bomber. While returning from a bombing mission the aircraft was attacked by German Junkers JU-88. Alkemade was trapped in the turret after the bomber caught fire. His parachute was in the cabin area. Alkemade jumped from the aircraft, preferring a quick death to being burned.
He fell from 18,000 ft, all the while thinking of his ultimate death. He relaxed his body and fell in a slightly head down position.

His next recollection was looking up at the stars through some pine trees. He could not believe he was okay. He moved each arm and leg and soon realized he was not even hurt badly.

Completely grateful of being alive he smoked a cigarette, before even getting up. He thought about what had just happened to him.

He realized that the pine trees, with their pliable branches, slowly reduced his descent rate to one that was survivable. In addition, the soft snow cover reduced the landing forces even more.

He finally stood up. His leg was sprained and would not support his weight.

A short time later, the Germans captured Alkemade. The Gestapo did not believe his story of jumping without a parachute. They thought he was a spy. Finally, after inspecting the parachute harness and finding the burned parachute at the crash site they believe him.

Alkemade died on Jun. 22, 1987.

Pilsburry · Post by **Pilsburry** » September 12, 2003, 1:52 pm

If he couldn't get to his chute int he cabin because he was stuck in the turret because of the fire and jumped without a chute.

How the hell would they have confirmed him not a spy by inspecting his chute harness and burnt parachute?

Am I missing something?

Skogen · Post by **Skogen** » September 12, 2003, 2:08 pm

the crash site

Pilsburry wrote:If he couldn't get to his chute int he cabin because he was stuck in the turret because of the fire and jumped without a chute.

How the hell would they have confirmed him not a spy by inspecting his chute harness and burnt parachute?

Am I missing something?

Read it again. They found his chute at the crash site

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » September 12, 2003, 2:12 pm

Wow, wonder what kind of smokes he smoked? That is one hell of a tough pack. I know I crush mine all the time and they are in my pocket.

Pilsburry · Post by **Pilsburry** » September 12, 2003, 3:17 pm

Ok, that's what I was missing I guess. I thought they meant his personal crash site.

I mean the actual crash site would probably be a good distance away, and enough flames it wouldn't be worth jumping inside to look for a chute that should be by all rights completely burnt up. And it's probably unsafe, and he's english and your german...I mean who would bother even driving out there? It's not like the germans were just like friendly travellers trying to help someone out.

I mean the flames were so bad he couldn't even risk going to get his chute? But after a likely lengthy discussion about whether he was a spy or not, a crash..which I assume would make actual fuel ignite...and a trip to the site....it was still just burnt? Not ashes?

I just get the feeling this is one of those tall tales...not your fault...I assume it's posted as fact. But it's highly questionable given his details.

I mean like the one dude said..it's surprising after the hits from all those branches and then a thump on the ground...that his cigarettes weren't just loose tobacco.

And even if they did find a chute...if there is a name patch even on them...I assume it would be the part that got burnt because it's on the outside.

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » September 12, 2003, 3:23 pm

Lets pretend the smokes are in his front left breast pocket. Now lets pretend he fell back first in to the trees. Why would they break?

Pilsburry · Post by **Pilsburry** » September 12, 2003, 3:41 pm

Try tossingyour self out of a flying devide into some trees back first.

1. Your more likely to be paralyzed..because your back can not sustain a good whack like your stomach could.

2. I've never done this personally but....I would assume the branches onthe way down would roll you around some.

Still that's not the only weird thing about the story, the fact german gestapo went out of thier way and braved burning wreckage and pulled out a parachute and then assumed it was him and labeled him as not a spy...that's pretty far out there as well.

I mean if I was in the middle east right now and some dude in an iraqi uniform showed up near my base and said he wasn't snooping around he just fell out of a plane without a chute...I'd tell that fucker to get in the back of my truck and if he opens his mouth or even raises an eyebrow, I'd blow his brains out. I'd take him back to the base but I'm not going searching for wreckage and then jump into the fire and look for unused chutes....not only do I not owe the guy favors, I don't know him at all, and he is paid to kill me. Why would I go do something retarded like that and risk my life for a guy paid to kill me?

It just doesn't ring true.

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » September 12, 2003, 3:58 pm

I am not saying the story is true, it prolly isnt. But, it was not uncommon for opposing countries to sift through crashes and wreckage in search of any plans, decoders, etc etc.. No reason they could not have come across a parachute too.

And, pretent the smokes were in his right pocket and he fell on his left side, or vidse versa. Or back pockets and fell face first. It would take about 2 seconds max to flop through those trees (though I think a branch to the head would have killed him) no reason that SOME part of him would not have gotten hit.

Enjoy the story, accept it or dont and move on.

Skogen · Post by **Skogen** » September 12, 2003, 5:00 pm

Pilsburry wrote:Ok, that's what I was missing I guess. I thought they meant his personal crash site.

I mean the actual crash site would probably be a good distance away, and enough flames it wouldn't be worth jumping inside to look for a chute that should be by all rights completely burnt up. And it's probably unsafe, and he's english and your german...I mean who would bother even driving out there? It's not like the germans were just like friendly travellers trying to help someone out.

I mean the flames were so bad he couldn't even risk going to get his chute? But after a likely lengthy discussion about whether he was a spy or not, a crash..which I assume would make actual fuel ignite...and a trip to the site....it was still just burnt? Not ashes?

I just get the feeling this is one of those tall tales...not your fault...I assume it's posted as fact. But it's highly questionable given his details.

I mean like the one dude said..it's surprising after the hits from all those branches and then a thump on the ground...that his cigarettes weren't just loose tobacco.

And even if they did find a chute...if there is a name patch even on them...I assume it would be the part that got burnt because it's on the outside.

Luftwaffe personel probably drove out there. All Allied air POW's came under there possesion, and they actually had a high regard for allied fliers. It was the Gestapo he had to worry about. They probably did to save the pilot from the firing squad (Yes, the Luftwaffe actully did stuff like that for captured allied pilots)
EDIT: Dont get me wrong though, there were queit a few Luftwaffe officers who were less than kind to downed fliers.