AIR HISTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1941, Page 6

AIR HISTORY

MADE BY BLENHEIM BOMBER IN CHARGE OF NEW ZEALAND PILOT. ’ SAFE RETURN AFTER TWICE HITTING SEA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, September 21. The Blenheim bomber which hit the sea twice, during yesterday's attack on a balloon-protected convoy ten miles north-west of the Hook of Holland, was piloted by a former New Zealand sheep farmer, now a flight lieutenant in the Bomber Command. This is believed to be the first time a-land aircraft has performed such a feat, states the Air Ministry news service.

The New Zealand pilot was leading his section into a coastal stretch of water allotted to his patrol when the convoy was sighted. The Blenheim squadron at once flew towards the convoy, one section making for the western half and the other section, led by the New Zealander, taking the eastern half. The convoy and its protecting anti-aircraft ships were brought to action at 1 p.m. Both' sections flew in at sea level and, despite balloons tethered to the vessels, the Blenheims, with all their front guns firing, rose to a little more than mast height in order to bomb.

The New Zealand pilot chose what he termed “a big fat one, of about 7,000 tons.” This vessel was flying a balloon and the aircraft had to run through a shattering fire. “As we went up over the ship,” said the pilot, “I had to list my starboard wing sharply to miss the balloon cable, and then levelled down between two flag ships. They caught us in the starboard engine. It was a terrific smack. The starboard airscrew shuddered, and in counteracting the sudden lurch we hit the sea with the port airscrew. I had just managed to pull out when the starboard engine knocked and rattled so badly that I had to throttle down. We hit the sea a second 'time, and I thought we were finished. Again I gave the aircraft all the boost I could, and once more we pulled up. Although she was making some remarkable noises, the Blenheim got us back and we blessed the people who made her. The oil pipes, had been smashed about, and we got back with one pint in the tank. We could have gone for another five minutes.” Four ships in the enemy convoy, one with a broken back, were seen on fire when the Blenheims came away.

IDENTITY OF PILOT

FORMER NEW ZEALAND SHEEP FARMER.

(Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. The New Zealand sheep farmer piloting the Blenheim, which returned safely after twice hitting the sea, was Pilot Officer Arthur B. Wheeler, of the North Island.