It was a miserable winter night for a Night Heckler launch. The A4Q" was loaded with a fall bomb load. After getting over the beach, the pilot scanned the dark for lights and visual targets while the Aircrewman (A/C) in the back scanned his radar and ECM.

They came under flak and the pilot started evasive maneuvers while at the same time searching for the target. Spotting the target, he commenced his dive and while evading the flak which was getting closer, he made the run and dropped all ordnance. In the confusion he had not communicated to the A/C in the back his intentions.

Due to the release of the center station and other bombs, the aircraft surged upward. The A/C thought they were hit as the pilot continued evasive flight. No communications to the pilot, so the A/C jettisoned the hatch, he had on the infamous "Poopy Suit" plus the newly issued hard hat, which didn't fit too well.

As he positioned himself to squeeze out the door the pilot rolled right and up flinging him back into the small cubby hole, but not before his hard hat blew off in the slip stream. He was still struggling to get out when the plane straightened up and all seemed well. The pilot was not aware that anything was amiss. No ICS, but everything seemed OK, no problems.

Returning to the ship he noticed he had to use more rudder than usual but all else seemed OK. Recovery was normal (#l wire, of course). Upon exiting the cockpit he was startled to see his A/C crawling out aft, beat up, cold, no helmet and no door.

After a little medicinal brandy from the flight surgeon the tale was told and all ended well. As a result of this incident, we installed a battery, push button and bell alarm system for bail out notification.