FIGHT WITH BOMBER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 6, 18 October 1941, Page 5

FIGHT WITH BOMBER.

COURAGEOUS CREW OF TRAWLER. LONDON, Oct. 16. The creAV of the trawler Ben Screel, from North Shields, by skill and courage saved their ship and themselves from an attack by a German twinengined bomber. The first bomb blew off the rudder, damaging the stern posts, and snapped one blade of the propeller and the tip of the other. Meanwhile, the Ben Screel was filling rapidly and the men made ready to launch a boat. A high swell was running and it was necessary to bring the trawler stern on to it to get the boat away, but the rudder was blown away.

Thinking quickly in the hail of bullets, the skipper got over the side, but by using the winch to veer and haul it, the trawlboard Avas made to act as a jury rudder and the Ben Screel came slowly stern on to the swell. The traAvler continued to fire at the aircraft Avhich eventually turned for home, losing height and Avith smoke pouring from it. Steering Avith the improvised rudder and with the pumps barely keeping pace with the incoming Avater the Ben Screel made for the Tyne at the best speed its crippled propeller could give it. Doggedness and fine seamanship nursed her to safety. Later, the skipper said the ship could not have lasted more than 60 minutes longer Avhen she reached port, but she lives to fight another day.— British Official Wireless.