Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 25, 2019 21:24:01 GMT 12
This article details an officer I don't think I have come across but he seems to have had an interesting career.
RAPID PROMOTION
SECOND TOUR OF OPERATION.
SQDN. LDR. J. B. STARKY
DEED THAT WON THE D.S.O.
(Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, October 4.
A New Zealand pilot to whom success has come rapidly is Squadron Leader J. B. Starky, of Opotiki. After bombing over Germany and in the Mediterranean area, where he was mentioned in dispatches, he returned to Britain and joined a Lancaster squadron. He was a flight sergeant on January 31, 1943, and by August 17 was squadron leader.
He was awarded the D.F.C. on September 12 for all-round good work, and then within ten days he won the immediate award of the D.S.O. for his part in a raid on Mannheim. His Lancaster II (the latest type of Lancaster, nick-named "Hitler's Biggest Headache") was attacked by a Junkers 88 at point-blank range. It shot the perspex hoods away and seriously wounded the second pilot and the engineer, and the bomber suddenly went out of Control. This was caused by the dinghy flying out of the aircraft and wrapping itself around the elevator, making it impossible for Squadron Leader Starky to fly the plane. He ordered the crew to bail out, and the navigator and the wireless operator had gone when the dinghy tore free, taking the elevator with it. Squadron Leader Starky then received a report on the condition of the wounded, and decided to attempt to make the base.
SUCCESSFUL LANDING.
By this time he had jettisoned his bombs. The gunners had shot down the Junkers, but it had holed the petrol tank, with the result that the two starboard engines shortly cut out. Squadron Leader Starky had to fly the Lancaster on the port engines while the wounded engineer, worked to get the starboard engines going again.
Then began the flight of two and a half hours to the base without a navigator —all the time flak crumping around the bomber. When they eventually arrived over England they found they were 30 miles off the track. However, they located another aerodrome. But their troubles were not over. The Lancaster was very unstable without its elevator, and Squadron Leader Starky had to land at flying speed— 140 miles an hour. This he did successfully, cutting the engines and using the brakes.
For that flight four decorations were given to the crew, including Squadron Leader Starky's D.S.O. It was his last flight, for he has now finished his second tour of duty, with a total of 47 operations.
Squadron Leader Starky began operating early in 1941, when he did 13 raids over Germany in Wellingtons. He flew to the Middle East in October of that year. He took part in General Auchinleck's push to Benghazi and the retreat to Halfaya, and also bombed targets in Greece and Crete. His crew at this period comprised an Australian, an American, a Welshman, an Englishman, and a man from Kenya.
Squadron Leader Starky had a miraculous escape when both his engines cut out shortly after a take-off with a full load of petrol and bombs. He jettisoned the bombs at 800 feet, and despite the terrific explosion got the aircraft down in the desert, but two of the crew were killed. Squadron Leader Starky walked for several hours back to the airfield for help and insisted on returning with an ambulance to help the crew, although he was injured and severely shaken by shock. He was mentioned in dispatches for this incident. He also bombed the Italian fleet at sea and bombed and strafed Agedabia.
After returning to England in May, 1942, he became a test pilot, flying many types of plane, including Mosquitoes, Beaufighters, and Spitfires until he applied to return to operations. He began his second tour last April and took part in 13 raids during the battle of the Ruhr. He once collided with another Lancaster over Gelsenkirchen and knocked four feet off his own bomber's starboard wing, but managed to return safely.
EVENING POST, 5 OCTOBER 1943
RAPID PROMOTION
SECOND TOUR OF OPERATION.
SQDN. LDR. J. B. STARKY
DEED THAT WON THE D.S.O.
(Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, October 4.
A New Zealand pilot to whom success has come rapidly is Squadron Leader J. B. Starky, of Opotiki. After bombing over Germany and in the Mediterranean area, where he was mentioned in dispatches, he returned to Britain and joined a Lancaster squadron. He was a flight sergeant on January 31, 1943, and by August 17 was squadron leader.
He was awarded the D.F.C. on September 12 for all-round good work, and then within ten days he won the immediate award of the D.S.O. for his part in a raid on Mannheim. His Lancaster II (the latest type of Lancaster, nick-named "Hitler's Biggest Headache") was attacked by a Junkers 88 at point-blank range. It shot the perspex hoods away and seriously wounded the second pilot and the engineer, and the bomber suddenly went out of Control. This was caused by the dinghy flying out of the aircraft and wrapping itself around the elevator, making it impossible for Squadron Leader Starky to fly the plane. He ordered the crew to bail out, and the navigator and the wireless operator had gone when the dinghy tore free, taking the elevator with it. Squadron Leader Starky then received a report on the condition of the wounded, and decided to attempt to make the base.
SUCCESSFUL LANDING.
By this time he had jettisoned his bombs. The gunners had shot down the Junkers, but it had holed the petrol tank, with the result that the two starboard engines shortly cut out. Squadron Leader Starky had to fly the Lancaster on the port engines while the wounded engineer, worked to get the starboard engines going again.
Then began the flight of two and a half hours to the base without a navigator —all the time flak crumping around the bomber. When they eventually arrived over England they found they were 30 miles off the track. However, they located another aerodrome. But their troubles were not over. The Lancaster was very unstable without its elevator, and Squadron Leader Starky had to land at flying speed— 140 miles an hour. This he did successfully, cutting the engines and using the brakes.
For that flight four decorations were given to the crew, including Squadron Leader Starky's D.S.O. It was his last flight, for he has now finished his second tour of duty, with a total of 47 operations.
Squadron Leader Starky began operating early in 1941, when he did 13 raids over Germany in Wellingtons. He flew to the Middle East in October of that year. He took part in General Auchinleck's push to Benghazi and the retreat to Halfaya, and also bombed targets in Greece and Crete. His crew at this period comprised an Australian, an American, a Welshman, an Englishman, and a man from Kenya.
Squadron Leader Starky had a miraculous escape when both his engines cut out shortly after a take-off with a full load of petrol and bombs. He jettisoned the bombs at 800 feet, and despite the terrific explosion got the aircraft down in the desert, but two of the crew were killed. Squadron Leader Starky walked for several hours back to the airfield for help and insisted on returning with an ambulance to help the crew, although he was injured and severely shaken by shock. He was mentioned in dispatches for this incident. He also bombed the Italian fleet at sea and bombed and strafed Agedabia.
After returning to England in May, 1942, he became a test pilot, flying many types of plane, including Mosquitoes, Beaufighters, and Spitfires until he applied to return to operations. He began his second tour last April and took part in 13 raids during the battle of the Ruhr. He once collided with another Lancaster over Gelsenkirchen and knocked four feet off his own bomber's starboard wing, but managed to return safely.
EVENING POST, 5 OCTOBER 1943
