Nicholas Alkemade

Nicholas, known as Nick, Alkemade (1923 - 1987) was Sergent - machine gunner in the Royal Air Force. There remained famous to have survived a falls vertiginous of 5.600 m without Parachute at the speed of 200 km/h, miraculeusement deadened by branches of pine S and a layer of Neige.

March 24th 1944, member of the crew of a bomber Lancaster ghost of a mission on Berlin, Alkemade jumped into space without parachute, preferring a fast death whereas its apparatus in flames fell after being touched by the shooting of a hunter of the Luftwaffe. In spite of the altitude of its fall, it was left there almost unscathed thanks to the branches and to the snow which deadened its landing. Suffering from only one distorsion, he told to have lit a cigarette while waiting for that one comes to seek it. He was given to the Gestapo which initially regarded it as a Espion, which cannot accept his account. The discovery of the wreck of its plane, container of the vestiges allowing its identification, authenticated its history. Released of its camp of Prisoner of war in May 1945, he became a hero when its adventure was known in Great Britain.

After its demobilization, it became Ouvrier in a chemical factory .

External sources

detailed Account of the adventure of the Alkemade sergeant (with his photograph) put on line the 23.12.2006
Another narration of this episode

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