BOMB ATTACK.

Auckland Star, Issue 18, 22 January 1940, Page 6

BOMB ATTACK.

SANK SUBMARINE.

AUCKLANDER IN ACTION.

YOUNG PHOT'S SUCCESS.

A notable aviation feat was accomplished by a young Auckland pilot, Pilot-Officer lan Patterson, when he made a bombing attack on a German submarine oft" the coast of Scotland and sank it with direct hits. Pilot-Officer Patterson is the only son of Mr. John Patterson, 20. Aratonga Avenue, One Tree Hill, and he did his preliminary flying at Mangere in 1938.

Stationed with a squadron in the north of Scotland, the young pilot was on coastal patrol duty in near-Arctic seaa when in the late dawn he sighted a U-fooat on the mirfaoe. He promptly attacked and his first bomb was a direct hit to one eide of the conning tower. Severely hit, the submarine submerged partially, but came to the surface again out of control and then dived at a steep angle. A second bomb struck the water immediately above the sinking craft and a growing pool of oil showed on the surface. The tuibmarine did not reappear.

Describing the final scene in the drama in the words of the pilot the "Scottish Express." states: "The stern slowly subsided again, and ae the U-boat sank I released a second bomb, which exploded on the spot , . A further quantity of oil and bubbles appeared. I circled round. In two or three minutes the bows and the top of the conning tower reappeared.

"The submarine was then wallowing out of control. I stayed over the U-boat. Oil was pouring from her all the time. Suddenly the bows rose right out of the water until the hull stood nearly vertical. A moment later she went down stern first and vanished. For a further 20 minutes I cruised over the spot. Oil and bubbles were seen all the time, but the submarine did not appear again."

Pilot-Officer Patterson was born in Auckland and educated at the Gladstone Koacl School and the Seddon Memorial Technical College. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force for training as a pilot in 1938 and did his elementary flying at Mangere. He completed his New Zealand training at Wigram aerodrome and was sent to England to join the R.A.F. in February, 1930. He was later posted to the coastal patrol squadron.