A DAMAGED PLANE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25208, 24 April 1943, Page 5

A DAMAGED PLANE

SAFE LANDING AFTER COLLISION DOMINION PILOT’S FEAT (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Apl. 21. A Stirling bomber of the New Zealand (75) Squadron collided with a Lancaster while returning from the latest raid against Rostock. The Stirling was piloted by the New Zealander Sergeant “ Jim ” Dallzell, who for three hours and a-half flew the bomber towards the base, although it was impossible to steer except by the use of the engines. It had a pronounced list to port. “It was a remarkable feat," said Flying Officer R. R. Rayner, of Dannevirke, who was the navigator. "Jim landed it safely and nobody was hurt. It was a bright moonlight night. We had an uneventful trip to Rostock. It was so bright that we could read a map on our way and could see the countryside in detail. We Dombed fairly early in the raid. We saw one of our aircraft being attacked—we saw three going down altogether on the trip. On the return flight we saw the raid progressing over Stettin. “ We were flying almost at deck level near the German coast when the rear gunner and wireless operator reported a Lancaster on our port," continued Flying Officer Rayner. “Jim turned abruptly, and suddenly there was a terrific bump. The Lancaster collided with us, but it did not crash, and Jim righted the Stirling, but the tail of the plane was bent over and was unserviceable. There was a heavy list to port, and Jim hi?d to hold the controls hard over to starboard, steering by the engines. He hung on for three hours and a-half while we were crossing the North Sea at a row level. Our wireless was out of action, and if we crashed into the sea, which often seemed likely, we would have been unable to send out an S O S. “They were long hours,” he added, “ but we arrived at our destination. Jim landed beautfiully, but because he could not control the rudder the plane twisted round, and yet no harm was done. It was certainly a marvellous bit of flying.” Several other aircraft from the New Zealand Squadron participated in the raid. This was the second eventful trip for Sergeant Dallzell. He recently had a remarkable escape when a piece of flak with a razor-like edge cut clean through bis flying kit and would have killed him if it had not struck a tobacco tin in his breast pocket.