WORLD FLIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21549, 31 October 1944, Page 3

WORLD FLIGHT

R.A.F. LANCASTER navigatorYrom n.z. AIRMEN'S ADVENTURES (Special Correspondent.) (11 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 30. Flight-Lieutenant N. B. Blakcy, D.F.C., of Onehunga, is first navigator in the Lancaster captained by Wing commander D. O. McKinley, D.F.C., which is now making the first roundthe world flight by an R.A.F. aircraft. The Lancaster will tour New Zealand before going to Australia. Flight-Lieutenant Blakey won the D.F.C. in November, 1943, the citation stating that he completed many operations against the enemy in which he displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty. No fewer than 205 shell splinter holes were made in a Lancaster piloted by Flying Oflicer R. J. vVisker, of Stockton, when he attacked an important constructional site some weeks ago, states the Air Ministry News Service. Flying Officer Wisker, who has since been awarded the D.F.C., flew into heavy anti-aircraft fire when making his bombing run. One shell burst immediately under his starboard wing, causing the aircraft to go into a violent spiral dive. Flying Officer Wisker struggled tq regain control for 5000 ft. He at last levelled out the bomber and, despite heavy flak and difficulty of handling his aircraft, he combed the target. Although the starboard inner engine failed, he based safely. He has now completed a tour of operations with a crew of six Englishmen. They flew in Bomber Command’s D-day raids and subsequent tactical attacks on the Caen battlefield. Crew Bale Out The discovery of a petrol leak 50 miles before his Halifax bomber could reach Duisburg on the night of October 14 placed Flying Oflicer W. B. Cookson, of Rotorua, and his crew in a precarious position. If they carried on they would possibly have to bale out over enemy territory. A conference was held over the "intercom” and the result was a unanimous decision to carry on to the target. The Halifax bombed the target in a part of the city not already in flames and started for home, riding through searchlight cones and a flak barrage rather than weaving, in order to economise in petrol. The time came when there was petrol only for five minutes left in the fuel tanks.

Flying Officer Cookson ordered the crew to jump. He was the last to leave and, as he jumped, the tanks showed that just, one minute oi flying time was left before the engines would splutter and die. As he floated down the engines stopped one after the other and the bomber dived to destruction, but the whole crew were safe, because they had flown as far as Brussels and the Allied lines.

Also m the crew was Flying Officer O. D. Pratt, of Dunedin, who was the navigator. It was this same crew who on a previous attack on Bochum were twice attacked by an enemy fighter. In the second attack the Halifax’s gunner shot down a fighter—a kill which was later confirmed.