NARROW ESCAPE

Auckland Star, 12 May 1941, Page 9

NARROW ESCAPE

RAID ON ENEMY BASE LANDING MADE IN FIELD (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday. Four days after a narrow escape in a raid on a submarine base, Sergeant R. Blackstock, of Eltham, statibned in England with the Royal Air Force, was reported missing. Sergeant Blackstock, who was the rear-gunner; described the raid, when j his aeroplane was hit by shrapnel 1 and pom-pom fire, in a letter received j after he was reported missing. I In spite of bad conditions, with! thick fog over land and sea, the target was found and the bombs dropped. That, however, did not! complete the raid, as orders were given to photograph the results, which necessitated going down to the mist under the low clouds to drop flares and flash bombs. Anti-aircraft shrapnel hit the radio ' receiving and transmitting equipment, putting it out of action, and bursts from a pom-pom ruined the: hvdraulic system by which the gun I turrets and retractable under-car-j riage of the bomber were operated. The pictures were taken and the! aeroplane turned for home. There j was fog again at the coast and no I bearing could be ascertained by i radio. The airmen looked for . beacons, the aeroplane coming down to about 300 ft. j "To cut a long story short, in the | finish we landed in a field 85 miles [ from our base," said Sergeant Black-1 stock. Although the landing gear 1 could not be lowered, the hydraulic ' system being out of order, the pilot j made a beautiful landing, all they | received being a good shaking. Identification by Home Guardsmen followed, a platoon coming at the ■ double with fixed bayonets five minutes after Verey shells were fired to summon aid. The crew of the aircraft stood with their hands above; their heads until they could be recognised as. British airmen.