A leg out of bed

[Chuck Anderson]

I was on the way home from a parade in my M20 armored car and pulling a steep hill when my #3 piston detonated. It blew shrapnal out of the bottom of the oil pan (and marking the spot for posterity). Scarey for me, but nowhere near what you guys are talking about!

[Mike Cecil]

Robin,

Your (potentially) wayward petrol stories remind me of part of an interview I did with an Armoured Corps officer, wherein he related how a fellow 2Lt had climbed into a Centurion driver's position to move the vehicle (late 1950s). It had a petrol leak, where a fair amount of the said combustible had gathered in the lower hull. He hit the starter, and the vehicle erupted in a flash of flame, the force of which lifted him bodily from the drivers seat. He impacted the edge of the hatch opening (he had the seat in the down position). Result: some burns but very severe skull damage. Scratch one promising career.

You are so right to never underestimate the power of MOGAS!

Mike C