Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 13, 2021 19:05:55 GMT 12
THRILLING ESCAPE
NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN
“WORST MOMENT OF LIFE”
PARACHUTE TORN AWAY
(Special Correspondent) (Received Sept. 5, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 4
A member of the Fleet Air Arm, Sub-Lieutenant G. Steven, of Christchurch, who is a flight-leader attached to H.M.S. Khedive, had a thrilling escape soon after the Allies landed in southern France. After he had led an attack against German motor transport fleeing north on the main road near Cruscades Sub-Lieutenant Steven took his flight back to the Khedive and all the pilots “landed on” except himself. His rudder had jammed.
The only alternative was to bale out, so Sub-Lieutenant Steven flew ahead of the fleet of carriers, gained height, turned his aircraft on its back, and allowed himself to fall out of the plane, but the parachute caught on the fuselage and it was tom away. When he looked up he saw not the full umbrella effect of an opened parachute but the slashed fabric streaming upwards.
In his own words, “That was easily the worst moment of my life.” Eventually, after many moments of suspense, by tugging at the rigging lines he managed to force open what was left of the parachute and hold it open until he landed safely on the water.
Part of Parachute Ripped
Within a few minutes he was picked up by one of the escorting destroyers and taken back to the Khedive. Afterwards when the parachute was examined it was found that one-sixth of it had been ripped away and that the remaining part had held by a seam round the edge only.
The attack on the escaping enemy motor transport was successful despite bad visibility. By the time Sub-Lieutenant Steven had led his flight to the target area it was almost impossible to see the road, but he was determined not to miss. He went down at an angle of over 90 degrees —that is, in an inverted dive—to make sure of seeing and hitting enemy transport. There is little doubt that he succeeded.
Despite his alarming experience Sub-Lieutenant Steven was flying again the next day—striking at more targets as the enemy retreated northwards.
WAIKATO TIMES, 5 SEPTEMBER 1944
NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN
“WORST MOMENT OF LIFE”
PARACHUTE TORN AWAY
(Special Correspondent) (Received Sept. 5, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 4
A member of the Fleet Air Arm, Sub-Lieutenant G. Steven, of Christchurch, who is a flight-leader attached to H.M.S. Khedive, had a thrilling escape soon after the Allies landed in southern France. After he had led an attack against German motor transport fleeing north on the main road near Cruscades Sub-Lieutenant Steven took his flight back to the Khedive and all the pilots “landed on” except himself. His rudder had jammed.
The only alternative was to bale out, so Sub-Lieutenant Steven flew ahead of the fleet of carriers, gained height, turned his aircraft on its back, and allowed himself to fall out of the plane, but the parachute caught on the fuselage and it was tom away. When he looked up he saw not the full umbrella effect of an opened parachute but the slashed fabric streaming upwards.
In his own words, “That was easily the worst moment of my life.” Eventually, after many moments of suspense, by tugging at the rigging lines he managed to force open what was left of the parachute and hold it open until he landed safely on the water.
Part of Parachute Ripped
Within a few minutes he was picked up by one of the escorting destroyers and taken back to the Khedive. Afterwards when the parachute was examined it was found that one-sixth of it had been ripped away and that the remaining part had held by a seam round the edge only.
The attack on the escaping enemy motor transport was successful despite bad visibility. By the time Sub-Lieutenant Steven had led his flight to the target area it was almost impossible to see the road, but he was determined not to miss. He went down at an angle of over 90 degrees —that is, in an inverted dive—to make sure of seeing and hitting enemy transport. There is little doubt that he succeeded.
Despite his alarming experience Sub-Lieutenant Steven was flying again the next day—striking at more targets as the enemy retreated northwards.
WAIKATO TIMES, 5 SEPTEMBER 1944
