RAPID ADVANCEMENT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 9, 6 October 1943, Page 5

RAPID ADVANCEMENT

Squadron Leader Starky HOW D.S.O. WAS WON (By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, October 4. A New Zealand pilot to whom success has come rapidly is Squadron Leader J. B Starky, Opotiki. After bombing over Germany'and in a* inXnhtS where he was mentioned in dispatches, he returned, to Britain and joined a Lan caster squadron. He was a flight sgeant on January 31, 1943, a “ d Ausnist 17 was squadron leader. He was awarded the D.F.C. on September 12 foi all-round good work and then within 10 days he won the immediate award of the D.S.O. for his part in a raid on Mann h IBs Lancaster II (the latest type of Lancaster, nicknamed “Hitlers LigSest Headache”) was attacked by a 8S at point-blank range. It, shot the perspex hoods away and seriously wounded the second pilot and the engineer, and the bomber suddenly went out of control. This was caused by the dinghy fiviii" out of the aircraft and wrapping itself round the elevator, making it impossible for Starky to fly the plane. He ordered the crew to bale out, and the navigator and the wireless operator had gone' when'the dinghy tore free, taking the elevator with it. Starky then received a report on the condition of. the wounded and decided to attempt to make the base. , •„ By this time he had jettisoned his bombs. The gunners had shot down the Junkers, but it had holed the petrol tank, with the result that the two starboard engines shortly cut out. Starky had to fly the Lancaster on the port engines while the wounded engineer worked to get the starboard engines going again. Then began the flight of two hours and a half to the base without a navigatorall the time flak crumping round the bomber. When they eventually arrived over England they found they were 39 miles off the track. However, they located another aerodrome. ■ But their troubles were not over. lhe Lancaster was very unstable without its elevator, and Starky had to land at 140 miles an hour. This he (lid successfully, cutting the engines and using the brakes. For that flight four decorations were .given to the crew, including Starky s D.S.O. It was his lust flight, for he has now finished his second tour of duty, with a total of 47 operations. _ Starky began operating early m 1941, when he did 13 raids over Germany in Wellingtons. He flew to the Middle East in October of that' year. He took part in General Auchinleck’s push to Benghazi and the retreat to Halfaya. and also bombed targets in Greece and Crete. His crew at this period comprised an Australian, an American, a Welshman, an Englishman and a man from Kenya. A Narrow Escape. He had a miraculous escape when both his engines cut out shortly after a takeoff with a full load of petrol and bombs. He jettisoned the bombs at SOO feet, and despite the terrific explosion got the aircraft down in the desert, but two of the crew were killed. Starky walked tor several hours back to the airfield for help and insisted on returning with an ambulance to help the crew, though he was injured anil severely shaken by shock, lie was mentioned in dispatches for this incident. He also bombed the Italian Fleet at sea and bombed and strafed Agedab ia. After returning to England in May, 1942, he became a test pilot, flying many types of .plane, including Mosquitos, Beaulighters'and Spitfires, till he applied to return to operations. He began his second tour last April and took part, in 13 raids during the battle of the Ruhr. He once collided with another Lancaster over Gelsenkirchen and knocked 4ft. off his own bomber’s starboard wing, but managed to return safely. Other New' Zealanders at present in the same squadron are Flight Lieutenants J. 11. Christiansen, Palmerston North, F. C. Jones, D.F.C., Auckland, Flying Officers A. Grey, Wellington, F. A. Braithwaite, R. C. Newcomb, Auckland, R. A. Ninnno, Southland; Pilot Officers C. 11. Wright. S. J. Ellis, Auckland, Warrant Officer IT. G. Hicks. Wanganui, Flight Sergeants F. S. Blackwell, J, BoswellKitchiug. C. K. Waldrow, Auckland, A. W. A. Todd, Wanganui, A. W. Clarke, Westland. Sergeants C. F. Farquharson, .InyercargiU > ..aß^..^._l^g.ajnbj^.Pate.a R .