THROUGH FOG AND SNOW

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21559, 23 January 1940, Page 5

THROUGH FOG AND SNOW

Royal Air Force bombing crews have added an epic of the air, against appalling weather odds, to the story of this war. Flying in icy conditions fourfifths of the time, they carried out at night a reconnaissance over southern Germany, writes a Reuter special correspondent, who met some of these men on their way home, and these are the facts of the flight as simply told. From the take-off to its close the reconnaissance lasted several hours. Almost as soon as the aeroplanes crossed the German frontier they ran into a blanket of fog and now stretching almost from ground level to a great height. From this they were unable, in spite of strenuous efforts, to emerge until a moment or two before they landed. The cold was so intense that some of the crews, although enclosed in their cabins, were sick; others cried out in sheer pain, and all were number almost senseless. Ice formed on the wings, pieces broke off and scattered on the fuselages and cabin windows, making | disturbingly sharp reports. Control wires split and had to be yanked free I with stiffening fingers every few minutes. At its worst the temperature reached 30 degrees below zero, and ice six inches thick collected on the cowlings. The men’s breath froze on their goggles. Yet all but one of the aircraft—this turned back shortly after crossing the frontier—reached their objectives and completed their mission. So filthy was the weather, however, that on their return they had to circle overhead before they were able definitely to spot their aerodromes. Flares sent out by anxious ground crews just could not bs seen. A graphic picture lof what it felt like to be in these bombers on such a flight was drawn by one of the pilots taking part. The cold seeped through metal, then through gloves and heavy clothing. Fingers stiffened. Later, bodies began to ache. After an hour or so an overpowering desire to sleep or to give

up came on. In an effort to keep warm, you slapped yourself and then slapped someone else. But that was not any good. It only exhausted you more. Time and again the moon seemed to glimmer through a break in the clouds, but it might have been a mirage, for when you tried to chase that moon it always eluded y ”. There was no way out of the icy clouds. One thought persisted; there was a job to be done, and at last it was done.