PILOT'S SKILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 7

PILOT'S SKILL.

CRASH AVERTED. ONE-WHEEL LANDING. CRXPPIXD KACHDTE. There were anxious moments for tie pilot and two occupants of a giant R.A.F. bomber which took off from Woods ford aerodrome, near Dorchester, England. In mid-air the pilot discovered that his retractable undercarriage had jammed. And he was carrying a load of bombs. To land with the 'plane seemed inevitably to mean a crash, and to the grave risk of the petrol catching fire was added the danger of the bombs exploding. Two R.A.F. corporals were with the pilot in the 'plane, a Blenheim twinengined bomber. After two hours' flying the pilot, when ready to land, found that only one landing wheel was working. By means of smoke signals he communicated with the ground staff at oodsford. Orders were given for a second plane to go up. with instructions for the pilot in his predicament. They were inscribed on the side of the 'plane in huge letters of ohaU. which stated: Drop your boni:is; finish j«etrol: lane at »0. The pilot flew across country to the R.A.F. bombing range at thickerell. near \\ eymouth. Here he was able to rid himself of his dangerouslv embarraseint» load. For another two hours the 'plane had to circle the countryside while the petrol supply was used up. Then came the perilous moment. On the aerodrome officers and men watched anxiously as the 'plane came down at a speed of 00 miles an hour. Many of them feared it would be impossible for it to come to rest without serious damage at least. The pilot, as he came near to earth, could see the aerodrome fire engine and ambulance standing ready in case of need. At length the 'plane touched the ground, skidded along for 300 yards and came to rest. Skill in control had averted the feared crash. The pilot stepped out to find that he had done no more than damage the propeller and tail wheel. Officials refused to divulge the name of the officer whose handling of the machine gained the admiration of the entire camp of 250 men. It is under- : stood he was Pilot-Officer Hallam. j The feat recalls the similar achieve- . ment after a mid-air ordeal of FlightSergeant Tucker, who while flying over Sussex- discovered that his under-carri-age was smashed. This young man. who is only 191, was ordered not to find safety by using his parachute. He made a perfect landing in his crippled machine after flying to exhaust his petrol.