BF 109 canopy and bailing out

[Outlaw]

Yes, the standard procedure for ditching a 109 would be to jettison the canopy. Most aircraft with rear sliding canopies would open and lock them. Even then in a hard ditch the lock can fail and the canopy close. If it were 100% safe to do so, I would always jettison the canopy before a ditch but, jettisoning it has its' own share of hazards.

IIRC, in the P-51 the procedure is to lower the seat as far as possible, duck as low as possible, and then pull the release lever.

--Outlaw.