Spent 3 Days On Raft After Ship Was Sunk

Northern Advocate, 10 June 1942, Page 4

Spent 3 Days On Raft After Ship Was Sunk

(Special) LONDON, June 9. The New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr. w. J. Jordan) met two outstanding New Zealanders during last week’s visits, Air-Vice-Marshal C. R. Carr, 0.8. E.. D.F.C., A.F.C.. of Palmerston North, and Wing-Commander P. G. Jameson, D.F.C. and Bar, of Lower Hut!:. Air-Vice-Marshal Carr joined up with the Royal Air Force in the last war and served in France from 1916 to 1918. He then won the D.F.C, in North Russia. He accompanied Sir Ernest Shackleton’s last expedition as a flying-officer. He was chosen in 1927 to attempt to win the world's non-stop flight record for Britain, but was obliged to give up after three gallant attempts. He served as a senior Air Force officer in H.M.S. Eagle on the China station from 1935 to 1937. He takes the greatest interest in the New Zealanders in his group and told Mr. Jordan that he intends to live in New Zealand after the war. Wing-Commander Jameson has been leading a Spitfire wing in sweeps over France. The wing included over the period Rhodesian, Canadian. Belgian, English, Australian and American Eagle Squadrons. Wing-Commander Jame.son led the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron in its first sweeps last year. “Voice Worth Five Huns” A group-captain, who is a D.S.O. with two bars, told Mr. Jordan: “Jamey is one of the best you can set eyes on. His voice over the radio-telephone during a sweep is worth five Huns for the confidence it gives. He has done a wonderful job of work.” Wing-Commander Jameson has shot down six Huns, two during the Norwegian campaign, from which he made a most lucky escape. He was expecting that the squadron would go to France, where he had already met ‘‘Cobber” Kain, but it was suddenlv posted to H.M.S. Glorious and went to Norway, where he flew Hurricanes for a fortnight. When the squadron left, the pilots faced the alternative of burning their Hurricanes or attempting to land on the Glorious. Wing-Commander and two others flew to the Glorious and landed safely. They sent a signal, whereupon all the others arrived. At 5 o’clock next day. when he was sleeping in a cabin, two cruisers attacked and sank the Glorious and her escorting destroyers. Three Days on Float The first salvo set the Glorious and the Hurricanes afire, after which orders were given to abandon ship. WingCommander Jameson jumped and swam to a Carley float, on which he remained for three days. There were 29 men on the float in a rough sea. They were all wet through and 19 died from exposure on the first night. Finally seven survived and were picked up by the merest chance by a Norwegian fishing boat escaping from the Germans. Wingi Commander Jameson and the survivors were taken to the Faroe Islands, where two died, leaving five. Wing-Commander Jameson spent three months in hospital, which was a most painful period. He has been flying again since September. 1940. He shot down a Hun in the big Coventry raid and another over London. He also shot down a Messerschmitt 109 over France and a Messerschmitt 110 off the coast of Holland on lone patrol. In common with other pilots, he regards the Focke Wulf 190 as “harder to get” than Messersehmitts.