PROUD RECORD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 87, 23 January 1942, Page 3

PROUD RECORD

TRAWLER FIGHTS AIRCRAFT. SEVERAL DEEDS RECOUNTED. recognition of gallantry, (United Press Association—Copyright.’ LONDON, January 21. The continuous gallantry of crews of trawlers m face of enemy attacks is recogmsed by many appointments to the Order of the British Empire. Three trawlers found a merchant ship bombed and sinking. The skipper of one trawler, realising that his ship could not make enough journeys to rescue the crew before the ship went down, slid his starboard bow along the port bow of the ship and called to the crew to jump. He made fast a wire to the ship’s bow and, by heaving on the winch, brought the trawler’s port quarter up to the ship’s starboard bow, repeating the operation three times until all the crew were rescued. Five minutes later the ship sank.

The skipper of another ship opened tire on an enemy aircraft attacking his trawler at masthead height. The enemy seemed to be hit, half rolled over,’ fouled the ship’s aerial and 1 flew off erratically at half speed, just skimming the water. On another occasion two trawlers five' miles apart were attacked 1 by : German aircraft which made low level runs. Both trawlers replied with Lewis guns. One was fishing and could not manoeuvre quickly, consequently it received minor damage, but the accurate gunnery of the two small ships brought the aircraft down flaming into the sea after the third attack. - '

The skipper of another steam trawler came up on a burning steamer when returning from a fishing trip. In spite of the risk of a crippling collision owing to the drift of the burning vessel, the skipper, after several attempts, laid the trawlers against the lee side and passed ropes fore and aft. For 40 minutes the vessels lay abreast and all the ship’s hands were taken off. Yet another trawler skipper lashed -hiswheel and kept firing with a rifle while ; his gunner used a Lewis gun on twe. enemy planes bombing and .gunning his vessel. One plane limped ( away with its port wing dipping and disappeared apparently out of control. A little later, while still fishing, the trawler was attacked by two more enemy planes and the skipper although wounded, kept firing until the enemy disappeared. When another .trawler was attacked, the cook. although wounded and bleeding profusely, stayed at liis gun, firing steadily. The enemy was hit and part" of the/ fuselage fell away. The skipper took the cook’s - place at the inin and succeeded in piercing the plane’s undercarriage during a very close attack in which three bombs only just missed the trawler whose steeling gear was damaged. After being hit a second time the enemy flew away. Even greater success was obtained by another trawler which fought a spirited action with a large-enemy aircraft which dropped two bombs anci repeatedly attacked with cannon and machine-gun fire. The gunner, by cool, steady fire, stopped the enemy from coming low and eventually hit him. The aircraft crashed and the crew ot five were captured. Another trawler gunner shot down an onomv attacker which was barely clearing the trawler’s masthead. When the German plane fell into the sea the vessel hauled in her trawl and tried to rescue the survivors, blit 10 bomber disappeared in a burst of name and black smoke.—British Official Wireless.