FLIERS’ ESCAPE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20547, 6 May 1941, Page 4

FLIERS’ ESCAPE

NEW ZEALAND CREW ATTACKED AND DAMAGED AUCKLANDER WOUNDED LONDON, April IG. A remarkable escape across the North Sea was made by a Wellington bomber, piloted by a New Zealander, after it had been hit by a Messerschmitt 110. The Wellington was returning from a raid when the Nazi atacked from below and shot away the hydraulic equipment. The bomber went into a dive of 9000 ft. and struggled over the sea at 80 m.p.h while the Messerschmitt followed it for an hour and a half, trying tojinish it off.

On landing, it was found that the fabric was torn off completely from the starboard side of the aeroplane. The goedetic, or “basket work,” construction was badly twisted and blown away, oil from the hydraulic system was plastered everywhere; the wireless was useless. There were bullet-holes in the motors and in the petrol tanks.

The New Zealanders in the crew were Sergeant M. G. McNeil, captain, formerly of the reporting staff of the Auckland Herald; Sergeant M. J. Fraser, Dannevirke, the second pilot; and Sergeant D. A. Dacre, Auckland, the observer. Sergeant McNeil flew the Wellington on the outward trip and Sergeant Fraser took over for the return. Bombing Completed It was a clear moonlight night, and the searchlights were intense and accurate. The target was bombed from 10,000 ft., and the aeroplane was corkscrewed on several occasions to dodge the anti-aircraft fire. Shells could be seen exploding in black puffs; a splinter of shrapnel struck the starboard motor, but this was not known until later.

Their bombing completed, the crew turned for home. There was "nothing to report” until the Dutch coast was reached, and then the first intimation that the Messerschmitt was near was a “terrific clatter.” This was caused by machine-gun and cannon shell lire from the Nazi.

Sergeant McNeil was standing under the astro dome, and he looked down to see a stream of tracer bullets emerging through the floor at his feet. He felt a searing pain, and he was wounded, but not seriously. Went Into a Steep Dive

The force of the Nazi’s fire pushed up the tail of the Wellington so steeply that the great bomber went into a steep dive. The entire crew were lifted from their seats by the force of the explosions so that they struck their heads on the roof of the aeroplane.

Sergeant Fraser struggled to bring the Wellington under control. As it roared down from 15,900 to 4000 ft. he used all his knowledge and strength, and eventually managed to ease it out of the dive. The fact that the hydraulic equipment was shot away meant that the under-carriages had dropped and the bomb doors opened. The flaps had also dropped. One was ripped off, which meant that Ser geant Fraser had to “hold up" one wing.

Speed fell from 200 miles an hour to 80, and the aeroplane gradually continued to lose height. It dropped until it was only 1000 ft. above the sea, and then, by fully opening the throtle, Sergeant Fraser was able to maintain height. From time to time he had to turn violently to evade the pursuing Messerschmitt. It flew in wide circles round the wounded bomber, and with unusual skill Fraser managed to elude it. Two Hundred Bullet Holes

The one-sided chase lasted across the North Sea, and the hour and a half seemed eternity to the crew. The Wellington jinked and twisted; and, in spite of the severe damage inflicted on it, remained airworthy. Finally the Nazi was eluded in a haze, and was seen no more during the last 20 miles to the English coast. It was a very relieved crew which scrambled from the bomber. In addition to Sergeant McNeil, the rear-gun-ner was also injured slightly; and Sergeant Fraser was exhausted after his fight with the controls and his efforts to keep clear of the Messerschmitt. Sergeant Fraser, who was taught to fly at the Wanganui Aero Club by Squadron-Leader H. Tancred, trained with Sergeant McNeil at Taieri and Wigram, and the two pilots have remained together since their arrival in England last October. Sergeant McNeil counted 200 bullet holes that had spattered round him as he stood under the astro dome. “It was a miracle that we got back at all,” he said.-