GALLANT FLIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21039, 15 February 1940, Page 7

GALLANT FLIERS

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE DISCOMFORTS & DANGERS FEATS OF ENDURANCE (Omciai Wireless) (Received Feb. 15, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 14 The difficulties, discomforts and dangers which face the crews of Royal Air Force aircraft who have taken aerial photographs in Germany, which are now being published, are revealed in records kept by the personnel engaged in these flights. Since the outbreak of the war Royal Air Force reconnaissance machines have visited key points in all parts of the Reich, as well as the German Islands. The weather plays a foremost part in the difficulties. On a single flight one aircraft encountered first lightning and then a snowstorm. At 20,000 feet ice formed on the air-screws. The pilot tooK off his glove for a moment to adjust the controls and was frostbitten. Ice formed in masses on the wings of one aircraft at 1000 feet while on the way to Munich. Ice completely covered the front windows of the cabin and there was extensive ice formation in the main wings, while ice could be heard coming off the blades and air-screws and striking the sides of the nose of the aircraft. Continuous movement of the controls was advisable to prevent them freezing up.

Some members of the crew were in such pain from frostbite that they thumped their hands on the floor and the navigation table.

It is in such conditions that Royal Air Force airmen collect information, photograph towns, fortresses, transport routes, naval and other harbours, and record landmarks, all of which will be of great value when the time comes that the British planes make their way to their allotted objectives. Ineffectual Opposition At night the enemy opposition to the Royal Air Force over Germany has been in some ways ineffective. Their fighter aircraft, for instance, repeatedly failed to intercept our night reconnaissance aircraft, but on occasions fire from enemy anti-air-craft guns working in close co-oper-ation with many searchlights forced us to take evasive action. The anti-aircraft gunfire, however, varies in accuracy. The pilot of an aircraft that flew over Berlin reported that the defence organisation there must have been badly shaken. Not a shot reached home, although it was obvious that every available gun had been brought to bear. For the most part the projectiles used in this case seemed to be experimental. Among the familiar ones generally used by the enemy are “flaming onions,” a string of balls of fire shot into the air in the presumed course of the aircraft in hope of setting it on fire. Red Balls of Fire There are also what the pilot described as “incendiary shells.” When they explode these shells discharge large red balls of fire that can be seen the whole way up. They eventually disappear without bursting. Day reconnaissance is a very different matter. Though it is handicapped by adverse weather it is exposed to an enemy that can see. Every photograph and bit of information brought back is a witness to many feats of endurance, patience and skill.