AWARD FOR AIRMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24424, 9 October 1940, Page 8

AWARD FOR AIRMAN

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS SANK TWO SUBMARINES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Oct. 7. Behind the announcement that Acting Flight-lieutenant W. W. Campbell has been awarded the D.F.C. lies the 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 Flight-lieu-tenant Campbell at once dived and released his bombs. There were two bursts abaft the conning-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 at once began to appear in the sea and two hours later there was a large patch of oil 300 by 500 yards across. The tail gunner reported seeing debris floating in the area for some time after the bombs burst.

The next day the same flying boat sighted an Italian submarine on the surface and again Flight-lieutenant 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 and taxied the flying boat among the wreckage and saved four of the submarine’s crew. 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 the return journey to the base, in the course of which he sighted yet another submarine on the surface. This he machine-gunned, as he had no bombs left. After the second attack the submarine “crash dived.”