§ Mr. Dyeasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that in October a Lancaster bomber carrying men home on leave from Italy crash-landed with engine trouble and that none of the passengers had parachutes; and if he will see that troops are provided with parachutes in future.
§ Mr. StracheyWe have gone very carefully into the question of carrying parachutes in the trooping aircraft and have reached the decision that they would not provide any safeguard to passengers or crews on these flights. This follows civil aviation practice. To abandon a large aircraft loaded with passengers by parachute calls for repeated drill beforehand. There is much more hope of safety from an emergency landing.