PILOT FROM N.Z.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20257, 27 May 1940, Page 7

PILOT FROM N.Z.

DISABLED MACHINE SERIES OF COMBATS WAS ALMOST HELPLESS NOVEL COAT OF ARMS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed, noon RUGBY, May 2G. A voting New Zealand fighter pilot has just brought his damaged Hurricane sale, to England from France after an extraordinary experience. The aircraft was severely damaged before the pilot left on. the journey home. Tite gunsights were gone and the only instruments working were the compass and oil temperature and pressure gauges. He had only his eight machine-guns loaded with ordinary ammunition. The starboard petrol tank was leaking when he decided to land at an aerodrome in northern France to refuel before continuing the flight to England. XVhen approaching the aerodrome he saw that part of the town nearby was m flames and just as he was preparing to come down he observed two Dormer 215’s begin a divebombing attack on the aerodrome. Enemy Craft Hit Immediately he got on the tail ot one and gave' it two short bursts. There was no doubt that he hit the enemy aircraft, although he had no gunsights. The second German machine tried to escape in the clouds, but the Hurricane pilot followed, it, blazing away with his guns. Having got rid of the two Dorniers, the New Zealander was about to land when he was attacked by a number of Messerschmitt fighters. Unable to cope with all of them immediately, he circled the town for about .1° minutes, giving them occasional bursts. When he landed at the aerodrome he found his starboard tank spurting petrol. He had his port tank fuelled and with a bayonet • widened the holes in the punctured tank to allow the fuel to escape. Then he took oh again with only 50 rounds left in each of his eight machine guns. Almost Helpless “With only that small amount of ammunition I was almost helpless, he said. “Later it was just my luck to run into another formation of six Messerschmitts when I was practically out of petrol. Anyway, I gave tl e leader a burst as he came head-on for me. I am sure I hit him and 1 dived down past him towards the ground. After that I just put my skates on for home.” The aircraft was decorated with a coat of arms, the pilot had designed for himself. It incorporates most ot the unlucky signs. In the centre is the figure 13, round- it a - sketch of . a man walking under a ladder, and anothei showing three cigarettes being lighted from the same match. Under this challenge to bad luck, the New Zealander printed this inscription: Whal the hell?”