Alan Magee

From Amazing Survival Wiki

Alan Eugene Magee (1919 - 2003) was an American airman who served during World War II. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey he was the youngest of six children. After Pearl Harbour Magee enlisted in the United States army as a turret gunner on the aircraft entitled "Snap, Crackle Pop".

[edit] 22,000 Foot Fall

On January 3, 1943 Magee was on a daylight bombing run over St-Nazaire, France when his aircraft was struck in the right wing by German fire. The plance plummeted into a death spin. Though Magee was injured he managed to get out of the turret gun and jump from the airplane.

22,000 Feet is nearly four miles and is almost a certain death fall. However as Magee was about to crash into the St-Nazaire train station a bomb exploded as he went through the glass roof cushioning his fall saving him from certain death. Out of the remaining 9 crewmates in the plane only 2 managed to survive impact with the ground.

[edit] Prisoner of war

German rescuers found him in the debris of the train station badly hurt but alive. They took him as prisoner of war and gave him medical treatment. Magee had 28 shrapnel wounds, numerous broken bones, facial injuries, lung and kidney damage, and his right arm was nearly severed. Magee was released from captivity in 1945 at the end of the war.

[edit] Awards and death

Magee was awarded the Purple Heart for his courage and bravery in battle. Magee retired from the force in 1979 and moved to northern New Mexico. In 1993 the people of St-Nazaire erected a 6-foot tall monument in honor of him and his crew.

Magee died from an unrelated stroke and kidnet failure in 2003 at the old age of 84.

[edit] Survivability

The show Mythbusters attempted to see if a fall such as his was survivable in episode 69. Their test showed that the bomb going off in a station under a falling person would more likely kill the person before they hit the ground then cushioning their fall. The Mythbuster ruled that it was impossible or "busted" to survive that kind of fall. And said Magee had luck on his side the day of his fall.

[edit] External Links

[1] Check-Six story.

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