AMAZING FEAT OF PILOTS

Southland Times, Issue 23988, 1 December 1939, Page 7

AMAZING FEAT OF PILOTS

New Zealanders As Heroes DAMAGED PLANE BROUGHT HOME (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received November 30, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, November 30. Two New Zealanders, a school master from Gisborne and a wool buyer from Masterton, were the heroes of an amazing feat of airmanship after a raid on the north-west of Germany on Monday. They described a blinding yellow flash and a “big bang” when flying at 2000 feet. They thought they were being attacked by a fighter aircraft and went round and round in uncontrollable circles, dropping at an alarming rate. A fall into the sea seemed inevitable and the pilots prepared the dinghy when they saw that only the framework remained on the top of the port wing and half the fabric of the starboard wing had gone. The pilot’s right arm was temporarily paralysed after the machine had safely landed at its home base as a result of the effort in controlling the machine. “The instinct of self-preservation pulled us through,”, said one pilot. “Anyhow I would have been a nitwit to let her fall into the sea after pulling her out of that drop through space.” * GOAL REACHED JUST BEFOREJDARK NO AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED ON OUTWARD JOURNEY LONDON, November 29. It can now be stated that the aircraft of the Royal Air Force long-range patrols which raided Borkum encountered no enemy aircraft on the outward journey. They arrived at theii - objective with 29 minutes to spare before complete darkness. The defence was taken by surprise and the leading sections attacked three seaplanes which they could see on the slipways. AIR COMBAT OFF COAST HEINKEL SHOT DOWN IN THRILLING FIGHT LONDON, November 29. The Air Ministry announced this afternoon that a German Heinkel aeroplane which was approaching the northeast coast early this morning was intercepted and engaged by a Royal Air

Force fighter. The German aeroplane dived vertically into the clouds towards the sea.

A later message said that a Royal Air Force fighter shot down a German aeroplane off the Northumberland coast, bringing the total brought down since October 6 to at least 23. Lifeboats and Royal Air Force machines searched the sea unsuccessfully for the raider, which was a German Heinkel. There previously had been a thrilling fight. The Heinkel waited until the Royal Air Force fighter was within 400 yards before diving, with its rear gun spitting a stream of tracer bullets. The fighter closed in and the Heinkel then dived towards the sea. It is believed two British fighters engaged another Heinkel over a southwest Scottish town. The Heinkel apparently escaped southward. There was aerial activity near the Firth of Forth.