INJURED GUNNER AIDED DURING FLIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 16 November 1939, Page 5

INJURED GUNNER AIDED DURING FLIGHT

TEMPERATURE TWENTY BELOW ZERO

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 16, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 15 Planes of the Royal Air Force in the past, few _ weeks have photographed towns, harbours and military objectives in Germany from low altitudes. On several, occasions the> penetrated enemy territory to a depth ot. 200 miles and encountered active opposition by enemy lighters and anti--aircraft fire. Nevertheless they succeeded in reaching theii objectives.

A single reconnaissance plane brought back more than 100 photographs of military objectives. Another photographed 16 enemy aerodromes and also the defences of ! Emden and Hamburg. A third Hew so low that it actually passed under two Heinkels which were about to land. All but a few of the planes have returned to the base, though each flight averaged 400 miles, half being across the North Sea and half across Germany. Many acts of heroism are recorded. In the course of one raid over Germany carried out, for the greater part of the distance, at an altitude where the temperature was 20 degrees below zero, an aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire while returning from its objective and the air gunner was wounded. Warn Clothing Discarded To reach him the non-eommissioned officer observer found it necessary to discard his parachute harness, life-saving jacket and warm outer clothing to squeeze through the narrow opening inside .the fuselage. Finding his companion badly wounded in the hand and thigh, he dressed the hand wound, but decided to leave the more serious thigh wound untouched, realising that loosening the clothing would probably result in a dangerous loss of blood.

Warming him with his body and encouraging him with reports of their progress, the observer remained with the wounded man till they were clear of Germany. He then returned to the front cockpit and attended to his navigation duties till his base was in sight, when he again made liis way back to the wounded air gunner and stayed with him until they landed. Throughout the whole flight from Germany the observer was without his flying clothes in a temperature never above freezing point. Skill of Bomber Pilots The skill of the British bomber pilots was shown on one occasion when an aircraft was attacked at a height of 24,000 ft. by a Messcrschmitt fighter. Using' evasive action the pilot eluded his opponent, but lost height so quickly in t lie process that he was soon down to a level where he was immediately engaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire.

While the anti-airevaft guns were firing the German fighter held off .till he was out of range, lie then renewed the attack, but without success.

The pilot of the aircraft engaged on this occasion has since been decorated for his gallantry in this and in an earlier and still more daring reconnaissance flight from which he brought back information and photographs of outstanding importance.