TRANS-TASMAN FLYER IN EASTERN WAR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 12

TRANS-TASMAN FLYER IN EASTERN WAR

Volunteer With Chinese Air, Force RAY WHITEHEAD SHOT DOWN IN “DOG-FIGHT” A foreign volunteer in the Chinese Air Force, Air. Ray Whitehead, wqllknown trans-Tasman flyer, ill a letter to ills wife in Wellington, tells how he was wounded and shot down in an air "dog-fight” with Japanese planes, shortly before Christinas. "Most of our foreign volunteers are flying bombers,” he writes, "but 1 and two others, a Frenchman and a German, managed to get hold of fighters. "On December 14 the Frenchman and some Chinese and 1 were instructed to go out after, some Japanese bombers, reported to be en route tu raid our ’drome. 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-light, six guns against 48. The Chinese were shot down immediately, which left us with three 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 had sneaked round on top of me, out of sight behind my top wing, whence lie potted me. Aly right arm being out of action, 1 grabbed the control with • the left, and dived to get clea r. A 450 m.p.li. Chase. "When 350 showed on the speedometer, I glanced back to see if 1 was being followed. I was—but it was too fast for any shooting. 1 did some quick thinking, and saw they would get me easily if I tried to laud. If I stayed up, with only one good hand, they could out-manoeuvre me. If I went down and jumped they would shoot me on the ground. So I shoved the machine straight downward. At 406 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, anil saw one of the Japs coming. 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. at about 6000 feet, I grew tired of holding the shrouds, anil let myself drop andTiung limp. To my great relief x tlie Jap. went away. I was surprised that he was fooled so easily, until I looked up at my ’chute? It was cut to shreds. However, it landed beautifully. Rescued By Chinese. "I felt quite all right, but eould 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 that 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 a local schoolmaster who spoke English, ajid had a medical kit. He cut the clothing away from my shoulder, and I was greatly relieved to see no blood gushing fojth, though I knew the collarbone was broken. "I got a better litter, and t-liey carried me in relays to a nearby aerodrome. an eight-hour journdy. "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 Nanchang Hospital the night they brought me in; bis plane was riddled, but he had just one bullet, through hU head. Our machines only do 240. against the Japanese 280, but ours dive better. Our new planes itrriving will make them sit up, though.”