JUST REACHED HOME
AUCKLAND PILOT'S RAID
TAIL OF PLANE SHOT OFF
"I arrived home with a trunk of a tree caught on the wing span of my machine," writes Flying-Officer Ray Brookbanks to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Brookbanks, of Bayswater. Flying-Officer Brookbanks was telling the story of raids over Germany and Italy. On this particular raid they flew 250 miles over
France at housetop height, and clearly saw the faces of the people standing in the doorways of their homes. Coming back at -night, the people flicked their torches in greeting. His plane was riddled with shot and flak, with the tail shot off, and he just managed to land home. But the machine was so badly damaged that it had to be sent back to the makers. The crew had no realisation of hitting anything, but the trunk of a tree was found stuck fast in the wing span. Most of the crew received only minor injuries, but Brookbanks suffered a broken ankle. He. says one of the most wonderful experiences is flying over the Alps on a brilliant moonlit night. On one side is France and on the other Italy, while down below are gorgeous green valleys.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 6
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201JUST REACHED HOME Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 6
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