81 Hours in Bomber’s Dinghy
EXPERIENCE OF WELLINGTON AIRMAN. (Received Sunday 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. C. Flying-Officer A. B. Smith, of Welling, was Captain of a Wellington bomber which, made a forced landing after an engine had failed 20 miles off: the Tunisian coast. The crew spent 81 hours in the bomber’s dinghy, taking turns at rowing for an hour arid resting for two hours until they reached the shore. It is revealed that they were forced down after a night attack against Gabes. Smith said: “We drifted for eleven hours hoping to be rescued and then started paddling southwards in order to make sure we did not land in German territory. We rowed for 70 hours until finally we reached the coast. We were drenched to the skin every night and got no sleep. When walking ashore we staggered like drunks."
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Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 56, 8 March 1943, Page 5
Word Count
14281 Hours in Bomber’s Dinghy Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 56, 8 March 1943, Page 5
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