Bailing out of an A-20G - was the crew out of luck?

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

Maxrobot1

Senior Airman
322
418
Sep 28, 2009
Recent events have brought to the fore a certain crash of A-20G-20 42-86768 "Barry's Baby," 3rd BG (L), 90th BS (L) on May 14, 1944 in the South West Pacific. The survivor T/Sgt Anthony Zulkus listed as "Engineer" survived. He claimed both engines quit at low altitude and the plane went in.
I have built models of A-20s and don't know where any escape hatches are. I know the glass nosed A-20 door was underneath, and the pilots compartment roof was huge. What about the gunner and other guy in the tail? If given warning, how could they manage?
President Biden's uncle died in the crash. 2lt Ambrose Finnegan was a courier for HQ 15th Air Force. Besides him, the pilot 1Lt Harold Prince and gunner T/Sgt Ashfors Cardwell perished and their bodies never recovered.
102_7662 adjusted.jpg
 
Last edited:
From the Mk.IV Pilot's Notes:

Emergency Exits
  • Pilot's cockpit.
    The roof of the pilot's cockpit is fitted with an emergency release handle at the aft transparent panel. Pulling this handle unlatches the roof and also pulls the pins from the hinges on the right-hand side, and the brace at the aft end. A push on the roof allows the air-stream to carry it away.
  • Gunner's compartment.
    1. The lower door is opened by the handle in the centre of the door, or by operating the crank on the right-hand side of the compartment.
    2. To open the upper crash exit, push up and outwards on the enclosure glass.
  • Bomb aimer's compartment.
    1. The lower door is opened by the handle in a recess in the right-hand front edge.
    2. An additional exit is provided on the right-hand side of the compartment; to open, rotate the red level backwards and push the handle out.
 
On the earlier (non-turreted) version, for example, the Boston III, the pilot bailed out before the rear crew, contrary to SOP on most other aircraft.
The rear gunner / radio compartment was fitted with rudimentary flight controls (i.e stick and rudder pedals), and it was the gunner's job to hold the aircraft steady whilst the pilot exited the cockpit, and slid off the wing. The gunner could then exit via the floor hatch, or "over the side".
For emergency exit on the ground, the nose compartment was fitted with an escape hatch panel on the port side of the glazing ( entrance hatch in floor used for bail out). Pilot and rear crew used the cockpit roof hatch and the open gun position respectively (upper escape hatch on turreted versions).
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back