NARROW ESCAPES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 7

NARROW ESCAPES

WANGANUI AIRMAN CAUGHT IN BURNING PLANE BULLET GRAZE IN EYE (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WANGANUI, Monday Up to August 18, Flight-Lieuten-ant A. C. Deere, D.F.C. and bar, had brought down 16 German areoplanes and his squadron had accounted for 100 machines, according to a letter to his parents, Mr and Mrs T. J. Deere, of Wanganui, written on that date. “I have been shot down again and had my narrowest escape." says the airman in his letter. “I became mixed up with five enemy aeroplanes and managed to get two before they got me. My machine caught fire at 1500 ft and I baled out. Unfortunately I got caught half-way out and could not free myself, but I managed to struggle clear just in time. Most of the fighting is done between 20,000 ft and 30,000 ft., and it makes one very tired.” In another engagement FlightLieutenant Deere had his watch shot off his wrist and a bullet penetrated the hood of his machine and clipped his left eye, making it bleed. He says the counties of ent and Sussex are strewn with wreckage of German bombers and present an amazing sight.

“The Huns continue to come over in hordes and the Royal Air Force continues to shoot them down in hordes,” ends the letter.