CAUGHT IN LIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24613, 18 June 1943, Page 3

CAUGHT IN LIGHTS

PLANE OVER DUSSELDORF NEW ZEALANDER'S STORY (Special Correspondent) (Reed. s.li"> p.m.) LONDON, June in "It was as bright as day," said Flight-Sergeant G. V. Helm, of luvercargill, pilot of a Stirling bomber in the 75th (New Zealand) Squadron, describing experiences when held in a cone of searchlights over Dusseldorf in the big raid of June 11. Flight-Ser-geant S. i). M. Stewart (Tirau), and J. G. A. Fi.sk (Wanganui) were members of the crew, also two Englishmen and two Scots.

"It was our fourth trip together," Sergeant Helm added. "Everything was fairly quiet until we reached the target, when we were caught in a cone of searchlights. We were just about to drop our bombs, so continued to fly straight and level until the bombs had gone. We thou weaved violently. We could hear shells bursting around us and pieces of iron Hying through the Stirling. "Our weaving was so violent that all four engines once stopped temporarily, and we dropped 1000 ft. before _ they picked up. One piece of flak hit the mid-upper turret, also the hydraulic pipes. We got out all right, but there was oil everywhere from leaking pipes, and Sergeant Stewart's navigating instruments were all over the aircraft, mostly falling on the bomb-aimer." Other New Zealatiders who wore in the raid included Squadron-Leader It. Broadbent (Auckland), Flight-Lieut-enant J. .Toll, D.F.M. (New Plymouth). who is on his second tour with the squadron, Flight-Sergeant H. C. Williams (Woodville), Sergeants J. N. Mee (Central Otago), D. P. Bain (Auckland), D. N. Luxton (Hamilton), atul F. S. Wilkinson (Nelson).

IMPROVED HALIFAX

ARMAMENT AND SPEED (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, June 16 The latest version of the Halifax embodies numerous structural and aerodynamic improvements which have resulted in a great advance in performance, says the British official wireless. The earlier plane had a power-operated gun turret in the nose. This has been replaced bv a large perspex nose. The removal of the turret will enable increased space to be made available lor the navigator and bomb-aimer. , The new nose permits improved distribution of equipment and an excellent view in all directions. Merlin 22 engines replace the Polls lioyce Merlin 20's and have added materially to the speed. The dorsal turret of two guns has been replaced by a BoultonPaul turret of four guns. Other alterations have added materially to the armament and speed.

PRECISION BOMBING IPi ml. 7.:50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June Hi The United States assistant-Chief of lhe Air Stall for Intelligence, in a speech before the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, stated the ease for Allied use of precision bombing, as opposed to the German terror bombing. Referring to .Mr. Churchill's statement in 1917 that bombing for terror alone would never cause a major nation to sue for peace, he said that England to-day was proof of the truth of that statement. On the other hand, he emphasised that the German failure to win tlie Battle of Britain was a misconception of the use of the air force, and not a proof of the futility of strategic bombing. NEW CURATIVE GLOVES (Hoed. 5.H5 p.m.) LONDON, June 17 A new first-aid pack which will soon be carried by all R.A.F. flying personnel includes gloves containing antiseptic and curative powders for use in the event of burns. The gloves, which are made from a secret new surgical silk, are expected to result in a big saving of life and suffering. It has been found that the hands of air crews sutler most from burns, because they sometimes have to beat out (ires in aircraft during bomber raids

MODERN AIR LINER PART IN POST-WAR WORLD LONDON, June 10 A four-cngined "flying hotel" for passenger service to India and Australia is already in service in the United Kingdom, according to the Daily Telegraph. If is designed to carry 20 passengers and travel 3000 miles on each hop. It has four bedrooms, a lounge which is also a dining room with a table for 12, an all-electric kitchen and radioequipped cabins. It also has n telephone connecting the different parts of the plane. The machine is not a converted bomber, although ii embodies many lessons learned in the construction of the most modern bombers. This plane is expected to play an important part in the development of world air lines after the war

KALGOOKLIE COLD £150.000,000 IN 50 YEARS i Herd. ».20 p.m.) PERTH, June 17 Tlio amount of gold won on the Kalgoorlie fie Id from June 15, 1893, tn June 15, 1943, totalled 26,172,505 ounces, valued at £150,000,000. This ■statement in inscribed on a tablet unveiled by the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia, Sir James Mitchell, at Kalgoorlie to commemorate the discovery of gold by Ihe late Paddy Hannan. When gold was discovered the population of Western Australia was 45.000 To-day it is 470,000. INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS WASHINGTON, June Hi Accidents at places of employment in the United States be!ween July. 1940. and January, 1943, resulted in 48,500 deaths—a higher toll than the Axis inflicted on the American anned forces. An additional 258.000 workers in the same period each lost nn eye a linger, a liand, au arm or a le^.