N.Z. PILOT’S FEAT

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1942, Page 6

N.Z. PILOT’S FEAT

BRINGS ’PLANE HOME WHEN WOUNDED. LSpecial to N.Z. Press Assn.j (Rec. 5.5.) LONDON, Nov. 24. Although wounded when a shell burst inside his cockpit, Sergeant Pilot R. J. Wright of Palmerston North, refused to leave the controls of his Wellington bomber until he landed in Britain. The Wellington was off the Dutch Coast when it was lit up by a searchlight and attacked bv anti-aircraft fire and machine gun fire from fighters. vCffien the shell burst, Sergeant Pilot Wright was hit in the right leg. hip and hand, and Sergeant Navigator H R. Johnston, of Hawke’s Bay, was wounded above his left elbow. The shell also shattered the compass and electric circuits, and: (damaged the radio. Sergeant Pilot Wright took evasive action. The rear gunner shot up three searchlights, and the enemy fighter made off after a long burst from the Wellington. Sergeant Pilot Wright was badly shaken. He was losing blood, but kept his machine headed for Britain. The bomb aifner helped to control the Wellington aRd supplied Sergeant Pilot Wright with oxygen. The radio operator applied a tourniquet and dressed SergeantNavigator Johnston’s arm. Although Servant Pilot Wright was unable to tell whether the undercarriage would operate owing to the extinguishing of the warning lights, the Wellington made a perfect landing. "The rear gunner said: “It is marvellous how Sergeant Pilot Wright managed to get us back. Once or twice he slumped forward in his seat, but he would not give in.”