BLENHEIM HITS SEA TWICE

Southland Times, Issue 24547, 23 September 1941, Page 5

BLENHEIM HITS SEA TWICE

PILOT’S UNIQUE FEAT FORMER N.Z. SHEEP-FARMER AT CONTROLS (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 21. The Bristol Blenheim which hit the sea twice during yesterday’s on a balloon protected convoy 'lO miles north-west of the Hook of Holland was piloted by a former New Zealand sheep farmer, Flight-Lieutenant Arthur B. Wheeler, a North Island man who is now attached to the Bomber Command, This is believed to be the first time a land aircraft has performed such a feat, states the Air Ministry News Service. The New Zealand pilot was leading his section into the coastal stretch of water allotted his patrol when a convoy was sighted. The Blenheim squadron at once flew towards the convoy, one section making for the western half and the other section, led by the New Zealander, taking the eastern half. The convoy and the protecting anti-aircraft ships were brought to action at 1 p.m. Both sections flew in at sea-level and despite the balloons tethered to the vessels the Blenheims, with all their front guns firing, rose to little more than mast height in order to bomb. SHATTERING FIRE The New Zealand pilot chose what he termed the “big fat one of about 7000 tons.” This vessel was flying a balloon and the aircraft had to run through shattering fire. “As we went up over the ship,” said the pilot, “I had to list my starboard wing sharply to miss the balloon cable and then I levelled down between the two anti-aircraft ships. They caught us in the starboard engine. It was a terrific smack. The starboard airscrew shuddered and in counteracting the sudden lurch we hit the sea with the port airscrew. I had just managed to pull out when the starboard engine knocked and rattled so badly that I had to throttle down. We hit the sea a second time and I thought we were finished. Again I gave the aircraft all the boost I could and once more we pulled up. Although she was making some remarkable noises the Blenheim got us back and we blessed the people who made her. The oil pipes, had been smashed about and we got back with one pint in the tank. We could have gone another five minutes.” Four ships in this convoy, one with a broken back, were seen to be on fire when the Blenheims came away.