HISTORY MADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1943, Page 4

HISTORY MADE

BY SUNDERLAND FLYING BOAT GALLANT RESCUE EFFORTS IN DAY OF BISCAY. SAFE RETURN AFTER PERILOUS TAKE-OFF. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 7. A Sunderland flying-boat recently made aviation history by successfully landing on an airfield after rescuing the crews of two others planes in the Bay of Biscay. Another Sunderland, which went out to rescue the crew of a Whitley bomber in a dinghy 250 miles from land, sank in a rough sea. The captain was killed and the first pilot injured. The remainder of the crew scrambled into their dinghy. One member of the crew plunged into the sea to rescue the injured pilot and brought him back after swimming with him for 40 minutes. The next day a second Sunderland located the two dinghies, although there was visibility of only 100 yards in a fog, landed and took both crews aboard.

Later in the day a Fighting French destroyer arrived and took off the men, except seven who volunteered to remain with the Sunderland’s captain, Flight Officer G. Singleton, in an effort to save the flying boat. After the destroyer had unsuccessfully attempted to tow the Sunderland, the volunteer crew decided to risk a take-off in a very rough sea. Waves struck the plane with terrific violence, making a hole in the hull seven feet by four. Seven attempts were made before the craft was airborne. The crew jettisoned everything inflammable and padded themselves with cushions and mattresses, but the craft touched ddwn on an airfield near its base with only a slight jar.