PARACHUTE LEAP FROM ENEMY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 11

PARACHUTE LEAP FROM ENEMY

NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN IN CHINA

RELENTLESS PURSUIT BY JAPANESE

VOLUNTEER PILOT ESCAPES WITH WOUNDS

(press association iilxgue^ WELLINGTON, March 22. Fighting as a foreign volunteer in the Chinese Air Force, Mr Ray Whitehead, the well-known transTasman flyer, in a letter to his wife in Wellington, tells how he was wounded and shot down in an'air “dog-fight” with Japanese fighting aeroplanes shortly before Christmas.

“Most of our foreign volunteers are flying bombers,” he writes, "but I and two others, a Frenchman and a German managed to get hold of fighters. On December 14 the Frenchmen and some Chinese and I were instructed to go out after some Japanese bombers, reported to be en route to raid our aerodrome.

“After half an hour’s patrol, we found them 12,000 feet above Nanchang. There were six bombers and six fighters. We dived down on them and were soon tangled up in a nasty ‘dog-fight,’ six guns against 48. The Chinese were shot down, immediately, which left us with scouts each. I had my three all in sight when I suddenly received a terrific thump in the right shoulder. One of the Frenchman’s three opponents sneaked round on top of me out of sight in front and behind my top wing, whence he potted me. My right arm being out of action I grabbed the control with the left and dived to get clear. Escape from Dilemma “When 350 showed on the speedometer, I glanced back to see if I was being followed. 1 was, but it was too fast for any shooting. I did some quick thinking and saw they would get me easily if I tried to land. If I stayed ‘up with only one good hand, they could outmanoeuvre me. If I went down and jumped, they would shoot me on the' ground, so I shoved the machine straight downwards at 400 miles an hour.

“The Japanese—or Italians—dropped behind, and I went over the side with my parachute. It opened with a terrific bang at that speed. Everything was very quiet with the parachute until I heard the rattle of a machine-gun and saw one of the Japs ‘coking.* I climbed the shrouds with my good arm and side-slipped the parachute to make it fall faster and sideways. Every time the Japanese would have another shot at me.

“In the end. about 600 feet. I grew tired of holding the shrouds and let myself drop and hang limp. To my great relief the Jap went away. I was surprised that he was fooled so easily until I looked up at my parachute. It was cut to shreds. Safe Landing “However, it landed beautifully. 1 felt quite all right, but could not get to my feet. The only thing worrying me was whether I was bleeding to death underneath all my fur clothing. “Some Chinese farmers came over and having assured themselves I was not a Jap, they made a litter and carried me about a quarter of a mile to a village. I was lucky enough to find the local schoolmaster, who spoke English and had a medical kit. He cut the clothing away from my shoulder and I was greatly relieved to see no blood gushing forth, though I knew the collarbone was broken. I got a better litter and they carried me in relays to a nearby aerodrome, as eight-hour journey. “While I was in hospital there was an air-raid at Hankow and the German was killed fighting five Japanese scouts, so I am the only foreign pursuit pilot left. The Frenchman died in the Nanchang Hospital the night they brought me in. His aeroplane was riddled, but he had just one bullet through his head.

“Our machines only do 240 against the Japanese 280, but ours dive better. Our new aeroplanes arriving will make them sit up though.*’