An Cosantóir

57 the associated airflow entering the cockpit now made commu- nication impossible between the two pilots. McPartland later recalled that he had remembered his pre-flight training and knew that the next step was to pull on his ejection handle. Suddenly Cadet McPartland found himself suspended from his parachute in this eerily quiet environment, slowly descending towards a bog in rural, Co. Cavan. He was now simultaneously trying to assess his landing zone while also scanning the horizon for sight of either the Vampire jet or the canopy of his instructor's parachute. The events on the morning on 05th May 1961, were made all the more legendary not only for claiming the first (and to date only) ejection from an Air Corps aircraft, but also because the explo- sive force from Mc Partlands ejection and possible shift in the centre of gravity, allowed O'Connor regain control of the aircraft. He managed to pull the stricken aircraft out of its steep dive and recover back to Baldonnel, although the lack of canopy (and possible concerns for his lack of student) would have made for an uncomfortable return journey to base. In 1961, the Cold War was at its peak and the space race was beginning to capture the worlds imagination. Gary Powers was a CIA pilot whose U2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Un- ion in 1960 and the US Mercury program was head-line news with astronaut John Glenn a household name. In Mullagh, Co. Cavan, Cadet McPartland parachuting to earth must have caused some curiosity and concern. McPartland landed in a bog and noticed a man close by travelling by ass and cart. When McPartland called out for assistance, the man turned and scurried in the opposite direction! McPartland gathered his parachute and made his way over land to the closest house. Upon entering a local cottage, it is rumoured the two inhabitants were mildly startled with the first man standing up in shock and the second man blessing himself. Eventually Cadet McPartland returned to Baldonnel via road transport and was greeted in the Officers Mess by some very relived Air Corps Officers none more so than Comdt. Jeremiah B. O'Connor. Cadet Ron McPartland was saved due to the Martin-Baker Ejec- tion seat in his Vampire aircraft. This feat earned him the right to become a member of the Martin-Baker Tie Club a club confined solely to those who have emergency ejected from an aircraft using a Martin-Baker ejection seat. He may have been the first Air Corps person to eject from an aircraft, however, it was another ex- Air Corps person, Mr Bernard Lynch who is credited with the first live ejection from an aircraft. Lynch, (who was in the Air Corps from 1934 – 1936) was working as an aircraft fitter for the Martin Baker company when he volunteered for the first static ejection up a specially built tower on 24th January 1945. He then conduct- ed the first mid-flight test ejection on 24th July 1946. He ejected himself from the rear cockpit of a specially modified Meteor 3 at 320 mph, 8000 ft in the air making him the first person to conduct a live ejection from a Martin Baker ejection seat! By 1970, spare parts for the Vampires were becoming both scarce and expensive. The Air Corps evaluated various aircraft types as potential replacements for the Vampire, which resulted in the eventual selection of the Aérospatiale (Foup) CM 170-2 Super Magister, coincidentally another distinctive looking aircraft. On September 11, 1975 the last two Vampires in service with the Air Corps (Nos. 185 and 191) provided an escort during the final stages of the delivery flight of the first two Super Magisters to Baldonnel Aerodrome. The last official flight of an Air Corps Vam- pire T.55 (No. 191) occurred on March 3, 1976. Since its retire- ment, the stories and folklore surrounding this aircraft developed into a nostalgia that earned The Vampire "Iconic" status. The 50th Anniversary commemoration certificate of the 1961 Vampire ejection from the Martin Baker Company. Brigadier General Jerry O'Connor (Retd) and Capt Ronnie McPartland (Retd) pictured at the Vampire reunion in Baldonnel, 3rd June 2010. Cadet McPartland pictured shortly after arriving back in Baldonnel following his ejection from Vampire 186 on the 5th May 1961. Comdt O'Connor, pilot in command of Vampire 186 who flew back to Baldonnel is pictured directly behing Cadet McPartland. THE STORIES THAT MADE THE VAMPIRE AN ICON

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