Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 10, 2021 15:48:47 GMT 12
DRAMA IN THE AIR
NEW ZEALANDERS’ EXPERIENCE
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Special London Correspondent) LONDON, Dec. 9
“Have shot down two fighters; attacked by three on target; target bombed; aircraft damaged and returning to base.” This was the dramatic message sent by Flight-Sergeant E. I. Smallfield, of Kaihere, who is a wireless operator in a Halifax bomber which recently attacked a target south-west in Germany. The Halifax reached its base only a few minutes late. Nobody was injured except the rear-gunner, whose finger was grazed by a bullet. There were cannon shell and bullet holes in the rear turret and the fuselage and it was difficult to understand how the pilot escaped.
The Halifax was flying in thick cloud when the captain saw tracers streaming past the port wing. A Junkers 88 appeared and in a few seconds bullets tore into the rear turret, striking the steel door behind the rear gunner.
“The rear gunner saw the Junkers and caught him as he was turning about 150 yards away,” said Flight-Sergeant Smallfield. His tracers set fire to the Junkers the flames lighting up the whole of the Junkers as it went down. Then he sighted two more Junkers and as one came in from starboard the mid-upper gunner set its wing afire. Then the rear gunner was able to get in a burst which set fire to its whole front. The pilot could be seen in the light of the flames as the Junkers turned right over as if about to loop. Then it went straight down. The other Junkers sheered off without attacking.”
WAIKATO TIMES, 11 DECEMBER 1942
NEW ZEALANDERS’ EXPERIENCE
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Special London Correspondent) LONDON, Dec. 9
“Have shot down two fighters; attacked by three on target; target bombed; aircraft damaged and returning to base.” This was the dramatic message sent by Flight-Sergeant E. I. Smallfield, of Kaihere, who is a wireless operator in a Halifax bomber which recently attacked a target south-west in Germany. The Halifax reached its base only a few minutes late. Nobody was injured except the rear-gunner, whose finger was grazed by a bullet. There were cannon shell and bullet holes in the rear turret and the fuselage and it was difficult to understand how the pilot escaped.
The Halifax was flying in thick cloud when the captain saw tracers streaming past the port wing. A Junkers 88 appeared and in a few seconds bullets tore into the rear turret, striking the steel door behind the rear gunner.
“The rear gunner saw the Junkers and caught him as he was turning about 150 yards away,” said Flight-Sergeant Smallfield. His tracers set fire to the Junkers the flames lighting up the whole of the Junkers as it went down. Then he sighted two more Junkers and as one came in from starboard the mid-upper gunner set its wing afire. Then the rear gunner was able to get in a burst which set fire to its whole front. The pilot could be seen in the light of the flames as the Junkers turned right over as if about to loop. Then it went straight down. The other Junkers sheered off without attacking.”
WAIKATO TIMES, 11 DECEMBER 1942
