Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 7, 2010 17:51:35 GMT 12
I just found this article on Papers Past, great story. I thought it worth recognising a kiwi Liberator bomber pilot form the forgotten India-Burma campaign here. Here's the article:
Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 49, 27 February 1945, Page 6
N.Z. AIRMAN SAVES CREW
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.)
CALCUTTA, February 25. . By skilful piloting during a bombing raid on enemy objectives in the Rangoon area, a New Zealand pilot not only saved his Liberator and crew, but also accounted for a Japanese fighter. He is Flying Officer John Haycock, of Nelson.
He made a swift but quite unorthodox manoeuvre with the aircraft so that the waist gunner caught the enemy in his sights and 50 rounds of accurate gunnery did the rest, but not before the Liberator was swishing through shrubs only 11 feet off the ground. Mushrooming smoke and steam, the enemy aircraft disappeared into the broad waters of the Irrawaddy. Flying Officer Haycock arrived in India early last year. After a short course at the jungle training school, he was posted to his present squadron and has made many long trips over enemy-occupied territory, including Siam, attacking communications and installations.
What an amazing flight that must have been, it's like something from a Commando Comic. He sounds like a really top pilot and his crew must have been excellent chaps too. I looked up By Such Deeds by Colin Hanson and he's there.
Flight Lieutenant John Eustace Haycock DFC
NZ422396 & 133869,
Born Richmond 15 May 1923
In RNZAF 27 Mar 1942 to 27 May 1947
Reserve till 28 April 1961, Pilot
Citation for Distinguished Flying Cross: (5 Mar 1946) [99 Squadron RAF, Liberator] This officer has completed a highly successful tour of operations. This included many sorties against various objectives. Early in his tour during low-level attacks on a bridge [on 13 Dec 1944], his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter but by skilful manoeuvring and accurate fire he was able to destroy it. On another occasion [on 11 Mar 1945] when flyng over Rangoon, his aircraft was seriously damaged by enemy action. With great skill and determination he regained control and successfully brought his damaged aircraft back to base, where he made a safe landing. Throughout his career Flying Officer Haycock has shown outstanding keeness, skill and great devotion to duty. In the incident over Rangoon mentioned above the Flight Engineer repaired the rudder control cables with parachute cords. On landing 197 holes were counted in the fuselage. The aircraft was so badly damaged it did not fly again.
Died Okiwi Bay, 5 Sep 1963
Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 49, 27 February 1945, Page 6
N.Z. AIRMAN SAVES CREW
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.)
CALCUTTA, February 25. . By skilful piloting during a bombing raid on enemy objectives in the Rangoon area, a New Zealand pilot not only saved his Liberator and crew, but also accounted for a Japanese fighter. He is Flying Officer John Haycock, of Nelson.
He made a swift but quite unorthodox manoeuvre with the aircraft so that the waist gunner caught the enemy in his sights and 50 rounds of accurate gunnery did the rest, but not before the Liberator was swishing through shrubs only 11 feet off the ground. Mushrooming smoke and steam, the enemy aircraft disappeared into the broad waters of the Irrawaddy. Flying Officer Haycock arrived in India early last year. After a short course at the jungle training school, he was posted to his present squadron and has made many long trips over enemy-occupied territory, including Siam, attacking communications and installations.
What an amazing flight that must have been, it's like something from a Commando Comic. He sounds like a really top pilot and his crew must have been excellent chaps too. I looked up By Such Deeds by Colin Hanson and he's there.
Flight Lieutenant John Eustace Haycock DFC
NZ422396 & 133869,
Born Richmond 15 May 1923
In RNZAF 27 Mar 1942 to 27 May 1947
Reserve till 28 April 1961, Pilot
Citation for Distinguished Flying Cross: (5 Mar 1946) [99 Squadron RAF, Liberator] This officer has completed a highly successful tour of operations. This included many sorties against various objectives. Early in his tour during low-level attacks on a bridge [on 13 Dec 1944], his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter but by skilful manoeuvring and accurate fire he was able to destroy it. On another occasion [on 11 Mar 1945] when flyng over Rangoon, his aircraft was seriously damaged by enemy action. With great skill and determination he regained control and successfully brought his damaged aircraft back to base, where he made a safe landing. Throughout his career Flying Officer Haycock has shown outstanding keeness, skill and great devotion to duty. In the incident over Rangoon mentioned above the Flight Engineer repaired the rudder control cables with parachute cords. On landing 197 holes were counted in the fuselage. The aircraft was so badly damaged it did not fly again.
Died Okiwi Bay, 5 Sep 1963
