Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 14, 2018 20:01:45 GMT 12
This is an incredible first hand story from the famous and popular Artie Ashworth. It comes from the NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 3 OCTOBER 1942
ALONE IN BOMBER
RETURN FROM GERMANY
NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN
CREW HAD ALL BALED OUT
(Special Correspondent) (Recd. G.35 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1
Three hours before dawn, the Wellington bomber "V for Victory" returned from operations over Germany. Ground crews guided it to the dispersal point and waited for the crew to get out. The pilot alone climbed out. He was Wing-Commander Arthur Ashworth, D.S.O., D.F.C., of Alexandra, Otago. The remainder of the crew had baled out over Germany and Wing-Commander Ashworth brought the Wellington to the base alone through flak, searchlights and fire.
"We had a special mission to carry out over the target, so we arrived early," said Wing-Commander Ashworth. "The Germans picked us up and we had their guns to ourselves for a quarter of an hour. Some bursts were extremely close.
"Two minutes before the zero hour the wireless operator-said: 'Sparks are coming up through the floor. I am standing by with an extinguisher.' I have had 65 operations, so the first warning did not trouble me unduly and I circled the target again.
Sparks Turn Into Flames
"The guns were further away and I was thinking all was well when the wireless operator said: 'Hello, skipper. The sparks are turning into flames.' A moment later the whole Wellington was lit up and I was suddenly blinded. A flare had caught alight in the aircraft, Ialthough 1 did not know it.
"it was a few seconds before I could see anything but a vivid yellow light," Wing-Commander Ashworth said, "I could not tell where we were going. My eyes hurt badly and the fumes made me cough. It was impossible to see the instruments. The glare was worse than trying to look at the sun. It was like being in the centre of a continuous photographic flash. I have seen several aircraft burning in the air and they usually break up before long, and I believed we had not many more seconds left, so I gave the order to bale out.
"The crew went out in correct order. I felt the rear gunner rotating his doors into the wind and felt him go. I then watched the others drop and fall through space.
Unable to Find Parachute
"It was now my turn. I got out of my seat to find my parachute, but could not find it. I searched everywhere and then returned to my seat and decided to make a crash landing immediately. It seemed that the Wellington would' crash at any moment, so I side-slipped to try to put out the flames.
"I was now more used to the glare and at 1000 ft. looked for a suitable landing spot. The Germans must have seen me like a torch and believed me unworthy of further ammunition.
"Then suddenly everything became dark. I think my jinking of the aircraft could not have extinguished the burning flare, but it must have helped to break it off. I kept the aircraft as level as I could, waiting for my dark vision to return and trying to remember the last course the navigator had given me before he went.
Both Engines Cut Out
"It seemed a long chance against my getting back, for every member of a Wellington crew has a special job, and it seemed almost hopeless that I should be able to cope with all, but I set a course for Dieppe, because I know the countryside around there. I had to set 'George' and leave my seat several times for adjustments in the aircraft's body. Flak came up occasionally, but nothing was very near.
"I recognised Dieppe and skirted round the searchlights. I was flying at 4500 ft. over the sea when both engines cut out. There had been no petrol showing on the clock for nearly an hour, and I thought possibly there was none in any of the tanks. I went back and changed to the emergency supply and one engine suddenly picked up. sending the aircraft down in a spiral dive. I returned to my seat when the machine was not far from the sea. Then I straightened out and pulled the balance of the cock so that the other engine came on. Then the Wellington flew on and made a good landing."
ALONE IN BOMBER
RETURN FROM GERMANY
NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN
CREW HAD ALL BALED OUT
(Special Correspondent) (Recd. G.35 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1
Three hours before dawn, the Wellington bomber "V for Victory" returned from operations over Germany. Ground crews guided it to the dispersal point and waited for the crew to get out. The pilot alone climbed out. He was Wing-Commander Arthur Ashworth, D.S.O., D.F.C., of Alexandra, Otago. The remainder of the crew had baled out over Germany and Wing-Commander Ashworth brought the Wellington to the base alone through flak, searchlights and fire.
"We had a special mission to carry out over the target, so we arrived early," said Wing-Commander Ashworth. "The Germans picked us up and we had their guns to ourselves for a quarter of an hour. Some bursts were extremely close.
"Two minutes before the zero hour the wireless operator-said: 'Sparks are coming up through the floor. I am standing by with an extinguisher.' I have had 65 operations, so the first warning did not trouble me unduly and I circled the target again.
Sparks Turn Into Flames
"The guns were further away and I was thinking all was well when the wireless operator said: 'Hello, skipper. The sparks are turning into flames.' A moment later the whole Wellington was lit up and I was suddenly blinded. A flare had caught alight in the aircraft, Ialthough 1 did not know it.
"it was a few seconds before I could see anything but a vivid yellow light," Wing-Commander Ashworth said, "I could not tell where we were going. My eyes hurt badly and the fumes made me cough. It was impossible to see the instruments. The glare was worse than trying to look at the sun. It was like being in the centre of a continuous photographic flash. I have seen several aircraft burning in the air and they usually break up before long, and I believed we had not many more seconds left, so I gave the order to bale out.
"The crew went out in correct order. I felt the rear gunner rotating his doors into the wind and felt him go. I then watched the others drop and fall through space.
Unable to Find Parachute
"It was now my turn. I got out of my seat to find my parachute, but could not find it. I searched everywhere and then returned to my seat and decided to make a crash landing immediately. It seemed that the Wellington would' crash at any moment, so I side-slipped to try to put out the flames.
"I was now more used to the glare and at 1000 ft. looked for a suitable landing spot. The Germans must have seen me like a torch and believed me unworthy of further ammunition.
"Then suddenly everything became dark. I think my jinking of the aircraft could not have extinguished the burning flare, but it must have helped to break it off. I kept the aircraft as level as I could, waiting for my dark vision to return and trying to remember the last course the navigator had given me before he went.
Both Engines Cut Out
"It seemed a long chance against my getting back, for every member of a Wellington crew has a special job, and it seemed almost hopeless that I should be able to cope with all, but I set a course for Dieppe, because I know the countryside around there. I had to set 'George' and leave my seat several times for adjustments in the aircraft's body. Flak came up occasionally, but nothing was very near.
"I recognised Dieppe and skirted round the searchlights. I was flying at 4500 ft. over the sea when both engines cut out. There had been no petrol showing on the clock for nearly an hour, and I thought possibly there was none in any of the tanks. I went back and changed to the emergency supply and one engine suddenly picked up. sending the aircraft down in a spiral dive. I returned to my seat when the machine was not far from the sea. Then I straightened out and pulled the balance of the cock so that the other engine came on. Then the Wellington flew on and made a good landing."
