Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 9, 2019 15:20:27 GMT 12
MIRACLE FLIGHT
NOSELESS LANCASTER
PILOT'S ENDURANCE
HAND FROZEN ON CONTROL
(Special Correspondent) (Recd. 8.30 p.m.) . LONDON, Dec. 22
Synthetic oil plants and railway centres in Germany have formed the principal targets for the No. 75 (New Zealand) Lancaster Bomber Squadron during recent months. These raids formed part of the strategy of crippling supplies going to the Germans in forward areas. A pleasing feature of these raids is that the losses of aircraft and crews have been remarkably few; in fact, ever since D Day, June 6, the rate of loss has been very much lower than anticipated.
The squadron is now commanded by Wing-Commander R. J. Newton, D.F.C., of Christchurch, who did his first tour with the squadron two years ago, when it was commanded by Air Commodore E. G. Olson, of New Plymouth, now officer commanding R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters in London. Wing-Commander Newton succeeds Wing-Commander R. J. C. Leslie, A.F.C., of New Plymouth, who was recently awarded the D.S.O.
Most Remarkable Feat
Although there have been few losses, there has been the occasional "incident" which has tested the crews to the full. One of the most remarkable feats of flying in the squadron's long and now famous history was recently performed by Flight-Lieutenant J. Plummer, of Wellington. During a raid on Duisberg flak blew away the nose of his aircraft, including all the perspex in front and behind him. Yet he flew his Lancaster for three and a-half hours back to its base with his left hand frozen on the control. His fingers had to be prized off when he landed.
With his crew, comprised of Flying-Officers J. Holloway (Auckland), E. J. Scott (Dunedin), Flight-Sergeants A. M. Macdonald (Dunedin) and A. L. Humphries (Mataura), also an Australian and an Englishman, Flight-Lieutenant Plummer had just dropped his bombs on Duisberg when the nose of the aircraft was hit by heavy flak. The Lancaster was at 22,500 feet and the temperature was 28 degrees below freezing level. The effect or the nose disappearing was to transform the aircraft into something like a wind tunnel, and the bomb-aimer was immediately blown 25 feet toward the tail of the aircraft and all the navigational aids and blackout curtains were ripped away by the icy blast.
Pilot Cried With Pain
With great presence of mind Flight-Lieutenant Plummer realised that it was imperative to reach a lower and warmer level. He put the Lancaster into a 300 miles an hour dive and descended 20,000 feet at that speed. The force of the wind nearly ripped him from his seat, only his harness straps holding him in position, and at times he was actually suspended above his chair. Within three to five seconds his left hand had frozen to the control column. Two fingers of his right hand were also bent and frozen. He had not been wearing gloves, since the temperature in the cockpit previously bad been warm.
Flight-Lieutenant Plummer's face and hands were frostbitten by the icy gale. He cried with pain, but he was determined to get the bomber home. The crew were unable to reach him because of the force of the wind and he had to fly the Lancaster with the muscles of his left arm, while an added complication was the attentions of German anti-aircraft guns. He had no feeling in his hands and he realised that he must be given help to work the flaps and undercarriage and pitch controls in order to land.
Courage and Determination
So Flying-Officer Holloway and Flight-Sergeant Humphries, lying down on their sides one behind the other, pushed the English engineer into position where he could reach these controls. The pilot made a perfect landing. His report on entering Wing-Commander Leslie's room was a masterpiece of under-statement. "My hands are a bit cold, sir," he said, and he added: "But I am going to fly tomorrow."
Flight-Lieutenant Plummer did not fly tomorrow and he has not flown since. He spent 12 days in bed with his hands strapped above him. For several days even after that he had to walk about with his hands up. He has now practically recovered. Everyone is hoping he will soon he decorated for his sheer courage and determination.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 23 DECEMBER 1944
NOSELESS LANCASTER
PILOT'S ENDURANCE
HAND FROZEN ON CONTROL
(Special Correspondent) (Recd. 8.30 p.m.) . LONDON, Dec. 22
Synthetic oil plants and railway centres in Germany have formed the principal targets for the No. 75 (New Zealand) Lancaster Bomber Squadron during recent months. These raids formed part of the strategy of crippling supplies going to the Germans in forward areas. A pleasing feature of these raids is that the losses of aircraft and crews have been remarkably few; in fact, ever since D Day, June 6, the rate of loss has been very much lower than anticipated.
The squadron is now commanded by Wing-Commander R. J. Newton, D.F.C., of Christchurch, who did his first tour with the squadron two years ago, when it was commanded by Air Commodore E. G. Olson, of New Plymouth, now officer commanding R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters in London. Wing-Commander Newton succeeds Wing-Commander R. J. C. Leslie, A.F.C., of New Plymouth, who was recently awarded the D.S.O.
Most Remarkable Feat
Although there have been few losses, there has been the occasional "incident" which has tested the crews to the full. One of the most remarkable feats of flying in the squadron's long and now famous history was recently performed by Flight-Lieutenant J. Plummer, of Wellington. During a raid on Duisberg flak blew away the nose of his aircraft, including all the perspex in front and behind him. Yet he flew his Lancaster for three and a-half hours back to its base with his left hand frozen on the control. His fingers had to be prized off when he landed.
With his crew, comprised of Flying-Officers J. Holloway (Auckland), E. J. Scott (Dunedin), Flight-Sergeants A. M. Macdonald (Dunedin) and A. L. Humphries (Mataura), also an Australian and an Englishman, Flight-Lieutenant Plummer had just dropped his bombs on Duisberg when the nose of the aircraft was hit by heavy flak. The Lancaster was at 22,500 feet and the temperature was 28 degrees below freezing level. The effect or the nose disappearing was to transform the aircraft into something like a wind tunnel, and the bomb-aimer was immediately blown 25 feet toward the tail of the aircraft and all the navigational aids and blackout curtains were ripped away by the icy blast.
Pilot Cried With Pain
With great presence of mind Flight-Lieutenant Plummer realised that it was imperative to reach a lower and warmer level. He put the Lancaster into a 300 miles an hour dive and descended 20,000 feet at that speed. The force of the wind nearly ripped him from his seat, only his harness straps holding him in position, and at times he was actually suspended above his chair. Within three to five seconds his left hand had frozen to the control column. Two fingers of his right hand were also bent and frozen. He had not been wearing gloves, since the temperature in the cockpit previously bad been warm.
Flight-Lieutenant Plummer's face and hands were frostbitten by the icy gale. He cried with pain, but he was determined to get the bomber home. The crew were unable to reach him because of the force of the wind and he had to fly the Lancaster with the muscles of his left arm, while an added complication was the attentions of German anti-aircraft guns. He had no feeling in his hands and he realised that he must be given help to work the flaps and undercarriage and pitch controls in order to land.
Courage and Determination
So Flying-Officer Holloway and Flight-Sergeant Humphries, lying down on their sides one behind the other, pushed the English engineer into position where he could reach these controls. The pilot made a perfect landing. His report on entering Wing-Commander Leslie's room was a masterpiece of under-statement. "My hands are a bit cold, sir," he said, and he added: "But I am going to fly tomorrow."
Flight-Lieutenant Plummer did not fly tomorrow and he has not flown since. He spent 12 days in bed with his hands strapped above him. For several days even after that he had to walk about with his hands up. He has now practically recovered. Everyone is hoping he will soon he decorated for his sheer courage and determination.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 23 DECEMBER 1944
