HEROIC PILOT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 October 1940, Page 5

HEROIC PILOT

ATTACK ON ARMED SHIP DRIVEN HOME IN AIRCRAFT PLUNGING TO DISASTER. AIR MINISTRY REPORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, October 7. An Air Ministry communique states: “Yesterday aircraft of the Bomber Command carried out daylight attacks on Ostend, Calais and Boulogne. Shipping and barge concentrations at Harlingen, Stavoren, Enkhuizen, Dordaekht and Den Helder were bombed. At Den Helder, a direct hit was registered on a supply vessel. The aerodrome at Diepholz, in Western Germany, was also attacked. In the course of these operations, a Blenheim bomber engaged and shot down an enemy fighter. None of our aircraft were lost. “Hudson aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked two armed merchant vessels off the Dutch coast yesterday morning. The ships put up an intensive protective barrage. While diving to attack, one of the Hudsons was hit and set on fire. Nevertheless the pilot, with great gallantry, pressed home the attack. His flaming aircraft eventually turned over and plunged headlong into the sea.”