NARROW ESCAPE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21157, 5 July 1940, Page 8

NARROW ESCAPE

BRITISH FLIERS’ ORDEAL FORCED DOWN ON SEA 13 HOURS IN RUBBER DINGHY (Official Wireless) (Received July 5, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, July 4 The crew of six of a British bomber which was forced to come down in the North Sea by engine trouble when returning from a raid over Germany have been picked up by pilots of their own squadron after drifting for over 13 hours in a rubber dinghy. The pilot had brought the disabled machine on to the water as well as he could after sending out an “5.0.5.” message, and in the four and a-half minutes before it sank all six of the crew escaped. While the rear gunner was climbing out the wireless aerial caught round his neck and he was released by cutting it with a knife. With all the crew safely in the dinghy the captain ordered them to throw away their heavy clothes. They kept one pair of shoes to bale out the water, which at first half filled the dinghy. Later they used shoes to paddle the dinghy, and a small tear in the bottom of the dinghy was effectively plugged by the foot of one of the crew. Meanwhile at the squadrons’ base in England pilots were volunteering to take part in a general search for the drifting dinghy. Eventually one of them, guided by a Verey cartridge fired from the dinghy, located the crew. Having received the position by wireless a bomber circled the area for nearly three hours, keeping the dinghy in sight all the time. Later it was relieved by another aircraft from the squadron, which remained over the dinghy until the men were picked up by a launch which had been sent out. More Raids on Germany Bombers attacked oil plants, communications, aircraft factories and canals in Germany and Germanoccupied territories. One of oui planes is missing. A group of hangars at the Brussels airport was set on fire, and at least five Junkers bombers and other planes are believed to have been hit. The Royal Air Force bombed the Hague aerodrome and saw high explosives and incendiary bombs bursting amid planes and the German crews as they raced to cover. Three German planes were burning fiercely as the raiders left. Dive-bombing attacks were also made on Aachen, Hamburg, Neumunster, Osnabruck, Lunen, Stomer, Verville and the western extremity of the Zuider Zee. The Royal Air Force destroyed 40 German warplanes between June 23 and July 4.