WITHERING FIRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 207, 2 August 1941, Page 8

WITHERING FIRE.

HOAV PILOT WENT DOWN. (Ree. 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 1. Wing-Commander Whitney Straight, M.C., who was Shot down over the I French coast on Thursday, was leading a squadron of Hurricanes in a fighter-es-corted bombing attack on enemy shipping, states the Air Ministry News Service. There was a good deal of low cloud, and, taking advantage of this cover, the squadron made its initial attack on some vessels. When diving on the ships they were mot by withering anti-aircraft ‘ fire. Wing-Commander Straight was seen to pull out of the dive and level out, with smoke pouring from his engine, this being consistent with a hit on the radiator. Continuing their dive, the other pilots heard their lead- 1 or’s voice calmly over the. radio : ‘‘l have been hit and I am going to make a forced landing in France. I order the squadron to return to its base.” The pilots swept the vessels with Heir fire, levelled out and flew hack to theii base as instructed. Some of them reported afterwards that they saw WingCommander Straight’s aircraft gliding down over the F reneli coast tow ards the land. Nearly two and a-half years ago Wiim-Commander Straight joined a famous auxiliary fighter squadron of the R.A.F. and has seen considerable action since the war started. In April , last year be was detached from special I duties in Norway, where be won the i M.C. anti was severely wounded. —Official Wireless.