BRILLIANT FEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 63, 17 March 1943, Page 3

BRILLIANT FEAT

BY NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN AXIS MERCHANTMAN SUNK BY WELLINGTON BOMBER (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) London, March 13. Wounded in both arms, a leg and a thigh, with both hands bandaged, and suffering from shock, FlightSergeant Douglas J. Cummings, of Christchurch, mended the damaged wireless set in his Wellington tor-pedo-bomber while returning to Alexandria after a raid on Tobruk last September. It meant the difference between crashing and basing. For his action he was granted the immediate award of the D.F.M. Another New Zealander in the same aircraft was also awarded the D.F.M. for his work in that flight. He is A. G. Metcalfe, of Hawera, recently promoted to pilot-officer. It was Metcalfe’s 46th. raid and his, last. He declared it his “best.” Metcalfe, who captained the aircraft, in which were also Sergeant “Killer” Kirk, of Christchurch, an American pilot-officer from Louisiana and a Scot, was ordered to attack a 6000-ton merchantman en route to Tobruk. It was escorted by eight destroyers. Under a full moon and a starlit sky they sighted the convoy but the destroyers put up a terrific barrage. It was so intense that the Wellington was hit five times by flak. But Metcalfe determined to get that merchantman. He flew within 10 feet of the sea, making it difficult for the destroyers’ guns to be trained on the Wellington and eventually, after much manoeuvring, released both torpedoes simultaneously from a height of 40 feet. They both struck amidships. There was a brilliant flash and the merchantman heeled. Then a red glow appeared. But a shell from one destroyer burst under the Wellington’s starboard engine and blew in the fuselage, wounding Cummings. It also put out of action the electrical equipment, making the wireless useless. Metcalfe—who is 23 and a little over five feet—handed over the controls to the American who is over six feet and a champion footballer. Then he went back and bandaged up Cummings, who then set to work to repair the wireless. Metcalfe said: “That wireless was the only thing which got us back. Doug was marvellous. There was noi a squeak from him although he must have been suffering badly. He was one of the best wireless operators in the squadron. Nobody else could have done the job.” Soon the wireless was working and picked up vital directions. The Wellington new on *and landed “reasonably safely” despite the fact that a shell had partly shot away the port wheels. There were only 20 gallons of petrol left—sqfficient for five minutes’ flying. It was a hectic trip but the crew had the satisfaction of receiving confirmation that they sank that supply ship. Metcalfe, who told me the story, is now an instructor in England. He was full of praise for Cummings. Metcalfe spent six months in Malta in 1941 and then went to Egypt, later spending a further two months at Malta. He bombed Benghazi, Tobruk, Naples and Messina and also torpedoed and probably sank an oiltanker off Crete last August.