AIRMAN'S SUCCESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1940, Page 8

AIRMAN'S SUCCESS

SUBMARINES SUNK

- TWO ITALIANS IN TWO DAYS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received October 8. 2 p.m.)

RUGBY, October 7.

Behind the announcement that Acting Flight Lieutenant W. W. Campbell has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross lies a story of the destruction of two Italian submarines. The attacks took place on two successive days. The periscope of the < first submarine was sighted, and Campbell at once dived and released his bombs. There were two bursts abaft the con-ning-tower. and immediately the nose of ,the submarine rose sharply out of the water. Then the hull slid back Vertically to the bottom. Air bubbles and oil Hi once began to appear, and two hours later there was a large patch 300 yards by 500 yards across. The tail gunner reported seeing debris floating in the area for some time after the bombs burst.

Next ".ay the same flying-boat sighted en Italian submarine on the surface, and again Campbell dived to the attack, scoring direct hits beside the conningtower. Although, in the open sea and in the face of an approaching storm, Campbell alighted, taxied the flyingboat among the wreckage, and saved four of the crew of the submarine. Owing to the state of the sea the rescuing of the survivors demanded the greatest skill and patience. After they were safely aboard and a final search made, Campbell resumed his patrol, handing over the prisoners on his return to the base. On his homeward journey he sighted yet another submarine on the surface. This he machine-gunned, as he had no bombs left.