ONE-HAND CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24178, 21 January 1942, Page 8

ONE-HAND CONTROL

PILOT AT 300 M.P.H, DINGHY THROWN TO COMRADE LONDON, Dec. 14 A Spitfire pilot, flying only a few feet above the sea, at 300 miles an hour, controlled his aeroplane with one hand and a foot while throwing a rubber dinghy to another airman in the water. An account of his adventure was given by the pilot to a Daily Telegraph reporter. The collapsible rubber dinghy carried by fighter pilots is attached to the parachute pack and also by a cord to their kit. The pilot uses the packed dinghy as a cushion. It can easily and quickly be inflated once he has used his parachute, and the cord keeps it floating near in the water until tile airman has time to climb into it. The pilot's seat in a fighter aeroplane is so small that_ he can hardly move his body, and it had been thought impossible _ for a man to detach his dinghy while in his aircraft. In this case, however, the pilot undid the complicated straps, thus releasing his parachute and safety harness, Then lie stood up and squeezed over to the 'right-hand side of the cockpit. While controlling his aircraft with one hand and foot, with his free left hand he worked the dinghy ;md parachute up his left side, unbuttoned the dinehy, and disconnected it. . Flying at 50 feet over the spot where liis friend was in the water, he held the dinghy high in the air and let it fly from his hand. Then he slipped the parachute back and fastened the harness. Before he could see if his comrade reached the dinghy, he was attacked by a German fighter from astern, but he escaped without damage. ,