A number of years ago I served as the bombardier on a public forum featuring the Air Force. The panel included a pilot, navigator, bombardier and a tail gunner. Each of us had 10 to 15 minutes to share our duties on a heavy bomber crew. All went as planned until we got to the tail gunner and he stole the show. In his early comments he said he was credited with one half mission. His B-17 was involved in a mid-air accident on his first mission and the tail section was severed from the main frame of the aircraft. He snapped on his parachute and attempted to exit the escape hatch but it was jammed. The next thing he remembered was waking up in an enemy hospital. He rode the tail section to the ground and survived. I don't remember his name but I think his story made Ripley's "Believe It Or Not".