PLUNGED TO DEATH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 24 October 1942, Page 2

PLUNGED TO DEATH

GALLANT CAPTAIN OF BOMBER POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF V.C. (Rec. 1.0 p.m.) Rugby, Oct. 23. The Victorian Cross has been awarded posthumously to Flying Officer S. T. Manser, R.A.F.V.R., for "determination and valour of the highest order” during a mass raid on Cologne on the night of 30th May last. Flying Officer Manser was captain and first pilot of a Manchester which when approaching the objective was caught by searchlights and subjected to intense A.A. fire. Flying Officer Manser held on the danger- , ous course, bombed the target successfully from seven thousand fet and then he set a course for the base. The plane i had been damaged and was still under heavy fire. Flying Officer Manser took ’ violent evasive action, descending to ! under a thousand feet, but unavailingly, . because searchlights and flak followed him. The aircraft was repeatedly hit. ! the rear-gunner was wounded, the front cabin filled with smoke, and the port , engine was overheating badly.

The pilot and crew could all have escaped safely by parachute but Flying Officer Manser persisted in his attempt to save the aircraft and the crew. The port engine burst into flames and it was ten minutes before the fire was mastered but the engine went out of action for good. One wing was burnt and the speed became dangerously low, the plane losing height. Flying Officer Manser set a new course for the nearest base and when a crash was inevitable he ordered the ; crew to bale out. A sergeant handed him a parachute but he waved it away telling the sergeant to jump at once as ; he could only hold the aircraft steady for a few seconds more while the crew was descending to safety. They saw the Manchester still carrying the gallant captain plunge to earth and burst into flames. —8.0. W.