"JUMP FOR IT!"

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 7

"JUMP FOR IT!"

'PLANE HEADING FOR CRASH. PILOTS QUICK THINKING. (Special.—By Air Mail.) LONDON*, March 7. Pilot Officer Robertson, believing tha the R.A.F. bomber he was flying las night was heading for a crash, ordere* his crew of two to "jump for it." "You'll be all right," he added. " am staying in. I might be able to land.' The crew junijted. And Pilot Office: Robertson pulled his 'nlJne out o trouble, flew on. and landed safely. The 'plane was flying from Didcot Berkshire, to Durham. Over Brad field seven miles from Sheffield, it develope< engine trouble. Below were the Yorkshire hills, wit! no level ground for landing. The 'plan: was diving. A crash seemed certain. Pilot Officer Robertson gave his order and the crew —Flight Sergeant F. J. Pereival and Aircraftsman James Allen —jumped with their parachutes. A strong wind carried them for two miles before they landed. Aircraftsman Allen injured his face as he came down. His parachute caught in a tree. Both men were taken to Sheffield Roval Infirmarv for treatment. ill thev knew about th<*ir pilot was that people had told them that they had seen the 'plane come out of its dive, regain height, and flv on. For nearly an hour there was silence. Then came a message from Doncaster civil airport: "Pilot Officer Robertson landed here safely." I After the engine had been attended' to Pilot Officer Robertson flew on toj Durham.