GRIM ORDEAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1940, Page 6

GRIM ORDEAL

FROZEN LAKE BATTLE

ATTACKS WITHSTOOD ALL DAY,

VALIANT EFFORTS OF BRITISH PILOTS.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received This Day, 10.27 a.m.) RUGBY, May 9. One of the most stirring incidents in the war concerns the experiences of a fighter squadron wmen, during recent operations, late at night, after fighting in a blining snowstorm from an aircraft carrier, landed on an improvised landing ground on the frozen Lake Lesjeskogen, 40 miles south-east of Andalsnes.

Snow had to be cut away for a runway, but all the pilots made a safe landing, and in a little over an hour were refuelled and dispersed around the lake, except one section in immediate readiness. It was necessary for some of the aircraft to take off at once to intercept two aircraft which had Norwegian markings, but were probably flown by German pilots. In any case the enemy were soon, aware of our dispositions. A patrol ol the lake began at three o'clock the next morning. The difficulty of getting the aircraft into the air was immense, owing to the, bitter cold. Shortly aftei’ 4 a.m. three of our aircraft engaged a Heinkel and shot it down. Two other Heinkels were intercepted. The frozen lake was attacked soon afterwards by another Heinkel with bombs and machinegun fire.

At 7.30 the enemy began attacks which continued all day, until 8 p.m. Except on the runway, melting snow in drifts several feet deep made it almost impossible to move. The British pilots had to crawl through the snow on hands and knees, and their drenched clothing immediately froze. Throughout incessant attacks, the pilots remained in the open, without cover and without thought of seeking any. As they came down from their combats witli the enemy, they refuelled, replenished their ammunition and tried to start up again. As one by one the aircraft wore destroyed on the ground, the pilots, some of them badly burned, helped one another to get the remaining aircraft into the air, all the time being machinegunned. When they could'no longer fly, they fought back from the ground with machineguns. Towards the end of the day, ammunition was exhausted, and the pilots made attacks which were feints, without a chance of returning the enemy's fire.