magee left his ball turret when it became inoperative after being damaged by german flak, and discovered his parachute had been torn and rendered useless. another flak hit then blew off a section of the right wing, causing the aircraft to enter a deadly spin. magee, in the process of moving from the bomb bay to the radio room, blacked out from lack of oxygen because of the high altitude and was miraculously thrown clear of the aircraft. he fell over four miles before crashing through the glass roof of the st. nazaire railroad station. the glass roof shattered, mitigating the force of magee's impact. rescuers found him on the floor of the station.