Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 2, 2021 22:28:05 GMT 12
THRILLS IN THE AIR
AIRMAN’S NARROW ESCAPE
(Special Correspondent) (Received Feb. 8, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7
Pilot-Officer J. S. Leech, of North Auckland, was the navigator of a Halifax bomber which was returning from Berlin when one of its propellers tore itself from the engine and crashed through the fuselage. The propeller sliced the metal like a knife, leaving a jagged hole four feet long before it plunged somewhere in Germany. Although it ripped through the wiring system to the instrument panel the English pilot, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, brought the Halifax safely to England. The trouble began when the starboard inner engine, which was hit by flak, caught fire. This put out the air automatic extinguisher, but the pilot could not feather the propeller, with the result that it continued to revolve at 4000 revolutions a minute and its hub became red hot. The pilot knew it would either fly off or the engine would blow up.
The propeller carved its way along the starboard side of the aircraft. No members of the crew were injured.
WAIKATO TIMES, 8 FEBRUARY 1944
AIRMAN’S NARROW ESCAPE
(Special Correspondent) (Received Feb. 8, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7
Pilot-Officer J. S. Leech, of North Auckland, was the navigator of a Halifax bomber which was returning from Berlin when one of its propellers tore itself from the engine and crashed through the fuselage. The propeller sliced the metal like a knife, leaving a jagged hole four feet long before it plunged somewhere in Germany. Although it ripped through the wiring system to the instrument panel the English pilot, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, brought the Halifax safely to England. The trouble began when the starboard inner engine, which was hit by flak, caught fire. This put out the air automatic extinguisher, but the pilot could not feather the propeller, with the result that it continued to revolve at 4000 revolutions a minute and its hub became red hot. The pilot knew it would either fly off or the engine would blow up.
The propeller carved its way along the starboard side of the aircraft. No members of the crew were injured.
WAIKATO TIMES, 8 FEBRUARY 1944
