BOMBER “THOR”

Evening Star, Issue 25782, 3 May 1946, Page 7

BOMBER “THOR”

STICKY TASMAN CROSSING OWE OF THE GIAHTS THAT SMASHED HITLER <P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 2. Carrying an Empire air armament, mission from the. United Kingdom, the Royal .Air Force Mark 111. Lancaster bomber Thor made a night landing in the flare path at Whenuapai to-night, after a nine-hour flight from Sydney. The aircraft was delayed by an electrical fault in the navigation'.equipment, which occurred 30 miles off the New Zealand coast. A searchlight was used from Whenuapai to. guide the machine, but repairs were made and the Lancaster made a smooth landing at 8;20 p.m., more than two hours behind.her estimated time of arrival. The Lancaster is visiting New Zealand on an instructional and demonstration tour of the R.N.Z.A.F. stations. It brings with it all the technical and combat experiences gained in the air war in Europe. The leader of the mission is Groupcaptain, E. D. Nelson, and there are 10 other members of the party, including Squadron-leader ■C. D. A. Browne, D.F.C., Squadron-leader C. H. Boothman, D.F.C., and Flight-lieuten-ant F. B. Soaper, D.F.C. The captain of the aircraft is Wing-commander M EL Del Everest. “ Sticky ” was the term used by Group-captain Nelson to describe the Tasman crossing. He added that the delayed departure of the aircraft from Australia had made their plans for the Dominion visit indefinite, but the' Thor would probably spend a few days at Whenuapai before going to Ohakea and Wigram. There is possibility of the aircraft being open to the public for inspection. By its visit, the mission hopes to obtain first-hand information' on armament problems in the countries concerned and to exchange views on aircrew training. Named after the god of war in Scandinavian mythology, the Thor is packed with many remarkable armament developments of the European theatre, which until recently ■ wero known in name only. The aircraft itself is one of those which carried the great R.A.F. offensive into the heart of Hitler’s Europe. Ten tons of bombs can be stowed in its racks, and these can be dropped with amazing precision by a special automatic bomh sight of the type which aimed the giant bombs which destroyed the Tirpitz and many other difficult targets. Equipped with the famous gyroscopic gunsight, so largely responsible for Allied air supremacy in the closing months of the European war, the Thor is defended from attack by three power-operated multigun turrets. In addition, the tail turret is fitted with o.sin guns and a special radar blindfiring device. Not only does this device detect attacking aircraft' when they are invisible to the - naked eye, but it shows .the gunner exactly where to aim his guns to shoot down the, unseen enemy. OTitstanding among other radar devices pn. the aircraft is the H. 0.25, one of the greatest war-time achievements of British science, which enabled the R.A.F. to find and devastate the cities of , Germany with'unerring accuracy on the darkest night. ‘ This instrument throws on a screen in the aircraft a picture of the ground beneath so that in complete darkness or from above dense cloud, the bomb aimer can pick out liis.target, from the land, rivers, and towns over which he is flying.