TASK PERFORMED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 249, 29 July 1940, Page 5

TASK PERFORMED

BRITISH AIRMEN’S EXPLOIT.

DAMAGED ’PLANE RETURNS.

SKILL TN HANDLING CRAFT

(United Press Association—Copyright >

,LONDON, July 27. Their aircraft severely crippled by anti-aircraft lire ovc-r Germany, the crow of a night bomber recently succeeded in completing their mission, coming safely back to their basis in England. The bomber’s objective was an important naval target in Germany, and on reaching Emden it met heavy lire from ground batteries. “We glided down to 1000 foot over the Ems river,” stated the captain- in his report, “and once clear of Emden wo met only light anti-air craft fire until we came to the oil depots at Fande. whorls we ran. into anti-aircraft fire which can only be described as terrific. Wd reached the Jade rivc-r with a large hole in the po/rt wing where a shell had gone; through and, turning south, we came down to 50 feet over the Jade basin to make certain of locating the target.

“Within a -few minutes we seemed to be a target for s.very anti-aircraft battery in north-west Germany. One shell went clean through the. starboard wing. Another, which caught us close to the starboard engine, dented tho starboard air-screw and peppered the fuselage with splinters. The tail wheel and both rudders were hit. The navigator was twice struck by shell splinters, though fortunately they lodged in liis clothing.” • At this stage-'the captain deckled to seek safety in height and jwitli great difficulty succeeded in climbing the damaged aircraft to.just over 1000 feet. He then called uiy.the rear gunner and, getting no,reply, , sent, the wireless operator aft to investigate.TThe . operator ..came,back, to report that- he had tapped the- re ( ar gunner on the back and received the brief reply: “No, ammunition left.” Between- themp! the two rear gunners had peppered the military ground targets with thousands of rounds of machine-gun fire. With his mission still to fulfil, the pilot again descended, this time to- 200 feet, .and after unloading l - his,-bombs jc-n the.target ,be turned for t liomq, nursing •the cvipplpfl .’plane, back .over the Nortli Sea- The pilot at'. Jast .reached the base. The special emergency device had to he employed to. force down the under-carriage and as the pilot levelled out to land he was grimly aware of his smashed tail wheel. But the landing was brought off, and as tho bomber rolled to a. standstill observers /marvelled at the return of an aircraft which was smashed and battered at almost every vital point-, yet had succeeded in completing its task. —British Official Wireless.