World World 2 Facts: Did You Know These 29 Interesting Details?

Fighter Pilot Alan Magee Survived 20,000ft Fall During Bombing Raid

World War II had its fair share of miraculous survival stories, but American Sgt. Alan Magee’s is one for the books. During a bombing raid on the German U-Boat arsenal in St. Nazaire, France, Magee’s plane caught fire at 20,000ft. He was able to jump out of his aircraft but was without a parachute, which was unfortunate to say the least. He ended up falling through the glass ceiling of the St. Nazaire railway station. He awoke to a German doctor working to save his arm among his array of other injuries, and Magee eventually made a full recovery. Ironically, Magee’s B-17 aircraft’s nickname was Snap! Crackle! Pop! as the Captain who flew the craft from the US to England had worked in the Kellogg’s Co. factory before the war. The name turned out to be quite fitting. Magee lived to be 82 years old.