BRAVED NAZI GUNS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1940, Page 7

BRAVED NAZI GUNS

I DARING NEW ZEALANDER Rec. 6.30 p.m. London, Sept. 14. A New Zealand bomber pilot was responsible for a daring attack on Flushing dockyard. His plane, which dived a stone's throw from the docks was thrown up 600 feet in a tremendous explosion the result of hits on buildings and an ammunition dump. The pilot said he met with terrific anti-aircraft fire. It was not worth while dodging so he dived down. The crew were thrown on their faces as the plane shot up. The machine was hit and partly out of control but reached England without a casualty. In describing his exploit the pilot said: "We were fairly low when . they opened up. I have never seen anything like it; there was so much of it. 1 put down the nose and hoped for the best. Searchlights were holdipg us all the time. I just kept my eyes on the instruments and on the docks. If one had looked round one would have been blinded. "As we went over the bomb aimer made certain that all our bombs had gone. We dropped them and they landed right in the centre of the dock buildings. "Immediately we were thrown to 600 feet. There were tremendous explosions, the second pilot, who was standing beside me, being knocked ofl his feet. I was just concentrating trying to keep the aircraft in the air and get away. There was a curtain of fire on all sides. We went through."