FLYING IN EUROPE

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 12

FLYING IN EUROPE

CONDITIONS THAT TIRE DUNEDIN MAN’S TWENTY FLIGHTS OVER GERMANY' At least 20 flights have been made over Germany by one Dunedin man serving in the Royal Air Force, although he makes no enlargement on this modest statement in a letter to his father. The writer is navigation officer of a Handley Page-Hampden, Britain’s largest bomber. She has two forward and four rear guns, is heavily armoured, and carries a crew of 11, five of whom are gunners. His letter was written on August 4, when he stated that he now had over 500 hours flying to his credit, including 150 hours night flying. A good deal of flying prior to writing had been made in wet, cloudy weather, which was exceptionay trying. “ I have made a few trips by instruments alone, flying about six hours at a time, without any glimpse of the ground. It is no wonder New Zealanders do not like (lying under English conditions, for we fly in the most dreadful stuff.” The only real effect of this, however, was to make pilots a little more tired than usual.

From Dunedin he has received many local newspapers, and he had been impressed by the manner in which reports were published that England was living in a state of sie;?e. “ Anything nearer to, and yet farther from, the truth is difficult"to imagine,” he says. “ English life is being carried on much the same as before. Food rations are not a great bother, and the restrictions are being taken in good part by all concerned.”