THRILLING EXPERIENCES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 8

THRILLING EXPERIENCES

NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN 12 PLANES SHOT DOWN MACHINE CATCHES FIRE (Official Wireless) (Received Sect. 18. 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 17 A New Zealand flight commander, who is credited with shooting down twelve and one-thirtieth German machines—the fraction being due to the share to be taken in three actions with other pilots in bringing down single enemy aeroplanes—has had an adventurous time in reaching this score. He has been shot down four or five times, and baled out three times in one day in July. He made a head-on attack on a Messerschmitt 109. Neither he nor the enemy would give way and they collided. The Messerschmitt’s airscrew struck the upper part of the British pilot’s cockpit and his hood jammed down. The machine caught fire, but he landed in a field. He found that his hood would not open, so he had to smash his way out as flames entered the cockpit. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his share in escorting a training aircraft across the Channel to Calais to rescue the squadron leader. He and another pilot in Spitfires were attacked by twelve Messerschmitts. Both pilots destroyed one each and shared in the destruction of the a third, and probably a fourth. The training plane was not damaged. He had a very narrow escape recently when he had just taken off with another pilot. As they left the ground a bomb came crashing near them. The port window of his aircraft was torn off and he and the machine were hurled into the next field, landing upside down and scatting along for 100 yards before coming to rest. He was rescued by the other pilot.