Take a read of one of these three books:
First Light by Geoffrey Wellum (died recently)
The Last Enemy by Richard Hillary
Last of the 10 Fighter Boys by Jimmy Corbin
They give an excellent insight into the sheer terror.
At the forum meet at East Kirkby Airfield some years back there was a reunion going on. I actually had the privilege of talking to Len Manning (died couple years ago) a rear gunner on Lancs. He told me of his experience having to bale out as it went down to starboard in flames. He said they teach you to bale out safely so you don't impale yourself on the tail. He said when you see the flames leaping at you through the fuselage he just grabbed his chute which was burning also, as well as himself, and get out any way you can. He still wore the burns.
He actually was the real live 'Allo Allo' character if you research him.
Many Spitfire/Hurricane pilots suffered terrible burns. Richard Hillarys book opens with his story of being burnt alive having taken a cannon shell in the fuel tank (behind the engine).
Hard hitting reading I recommend.
Hard to imagine what it was like. QUOTE]
