The Rashness of Rashleigh

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 196, 19 August 1941, Page 5

The Rashness of Rashleigh

HOW AIRMAN OUTWITTED ARABS Received Monday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 17. The deed for which Flying Officer I*. E. G. Rashleigh has been awarded the D.F.C. reads like the romance of a boy’s adventure. The official account states that on an evening in July following a report that an aircraft had crashed on the French Moroccan coast Flying Officer Rashleigh took off to locate tho aircraft and render assistance. Sighting the wrecked aircraft at Sidi Dalemi he flew low over the spot three or four times and observed lour groups comprising some 200 Arabs. While making another circuit three members of the crew of the wrecked aircraft detached themselves from the largest group and commenced waving. Rashleigh indicated that he would land near where they were standing, coming to the ground on t£e shallow side of the rise out of view of the majority of the Arabs, he finished his run to within thirty yards of the crew who immediately dashed for tho aircraft.

The Arabs then opened fire and Rashleigh with the crew scrambling aboard immediately turned the tail of his aircraft towards the hostile party and opened the throttle causing a cloud of dust which obscured them from view. He then took off safely and returned to his base with the rescued crew.