AIRCRAFT LANDED IN FLAMES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23177, 14 November 1940, Page 11

AIRCRAFT LANDED IN FLAMES

♦ PILOT AVOIDS CRASH IN SUBURB LONDON, September 24. Londoners who saw a Hurricane side-slipping over their heads during the week-end did not know that the pilot was battling to save their lives. The Hurricane, dropping down over an outer London suburb, was gliding quite normally, then side-slipped violently. As it appeared to fall out of control, it righted itself only to sideslip again a few seconds later. When the aircraft came lower, smoke was seen to be pouring from the engine. Watchers followed its erratic flight until it disappeared towards the north. In the Hurricane a pilot officer, who could have saved himself much earlier by jumping, was striving both to keep the fire from blazing up and to prevent his machine from crashing on to houses. A few minutes earlier the Hurricane had been hit by an explosive shell from a Messcrschmitt 109. Gliding away from the enemy, the. pilot undid his straps and prepared to parachute. Then he saw that he was over a thickly populated district. Sooner than take the risk of his pilotless machine crashing into houses, he decided to try to land in open country. By this time oil was spraying in a thick sheet from the engine. If he could keep the flames away from the fuselage he knew he would have a good chance of getting down safely. Then he had an idea. He switched off his engine, and by a series of violent side-slips got the flames under control. As his wing dropped with each manoeuvre he was able to keep the fire from spreading to the Hurricane's vital parts. Eventually, after some anxious moments, he landed safely, with wheels up. in an empty field. All the way down the pilot officer was followed by a squadron leader of a Spitfire squadron, circling him and keeping off enemy machines. He probably saved his life, as three Messerschniitt 109's were hovering in the background ready to pounce if the damaged Hurricane was left unprotected.

The pilot officer’s Hurricane was badly knocked about, but by no means beyond repair. It was more than a fair exchange for a Messerschmitt 109 which he had sent crashing to'earth in flames before he himself was hit. and a Dornier 215, which he damaged but could not follow down.