RAID ON TOBRUK

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1940, Page 6

RAID ON TOBRUK

TARANAKI PILOT’S- STOR Y

NEW PLYMOUTH, Sep. 11

Experiences in.one raid on the important seaport and , naval base at Xobrj)k,von the', Mediterranean coast, are outlined in- a letter received by friends from' Rilot-Qjficef. R- F. Camphell, .formerly of Opunaki, .now serving with the Royal Air Force in. Egypt.

“We received orders to load pip with . 250-pounders, and to,proceed to. the harbour of Tobruk, an important port in Libya,”,he. says in the letter. “We Ipft,'.in.Dime to be over our target at dusk, and we approached from 50 miles out oyer the .Mediterranean, at 20,000 feet. The sky in front of me. was suddenly filled with bursting shells from anti-aircraft, guns. We tore through the smoke at about 220 miles per hour, sighted, and 'et go, and hurriedly set course for dear old Egypt. “1 was .just, beginning to think how fortunate 1 was when oat of the sun Hashed three Italian fighter aircraft. M.V rear gunner let loose, a burst as they dived at us, guns cracking, but they must be terribie shots, because not one bullet struck my aircraft. “Then by rear gunner spoke- to me over the telephone, saying, “There is T 42- under your port wing, but. I cannot lower my gun far. enough to get him.' I had a quick look over. There - lie was, not 30ft below me. 1 swung down the, wing,, and heard a burst filed. It was obvious to me that he could stay, there all day, and I could not very easily .shift him, and, on the other hand, he could not get me, because he did not Vimve sufficient speed with which to manoeuvre his. sights, lie saw I had greater speed, so (lived away vertically, with a wave of his hand for a good-bye. J flv bombers, which are not meant for fighting, .so could not engage him.”