HURLED ALOFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 10

HURLED ALOFT.

OVER ENEMY DOCKS.

R.A.F. Pilot Defies Defences To

Wreck Target.

British Official Wireless. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 13. The pilot of an aircraft which last night dived down nearly to ground level over the Flushing dockyard in face of intense anti-aircraft Are and. dropped his bombs, said, in describing the exploit:—

"We were Idirly low when they opened up. I have never seen anything like it. There was bo much of it. I put. down the nose and hoped for the best. Searchlights were holding us all the time. I just kept my eyes on the instruments and on the docks. If one had looked round one would have been blinded.

"As we went over the bomb aimer made certain that all the bombs had gone. We dropped them and they landed right in the centre of the dock buildings. Immediately, we were thrown to 600 feet. There were tremendous explosions. The second pilot, who was standing beside me, was knocked off his feet. I was just concentrating on trying to keep tlie aircraft in the air to get away. There was a curtain of fire on all sides. We went through."

The ships in the harbour also opened firo on the attacking aircraft with heavy quick-firing guns, as well as with the lighter guns and anti-aircraft guns. One pilot sent out an S.O.S. that he was likely to be coming down, but was attempting to get home. Flying very low over the sea he managed to bring his aircraft back and made a pafc landing his base. '