1940-11-28 — Page 9

7

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 28, 1940:

AS BULLET

PILOT WATCHED USED PLANE IN 'MIRROR' V.C. BEING WON

YOU KNOW THAT SERGEANT JOHN HAN- NAH, EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD RADIO OPERATOR IN A HAMPDEN. BOMBER, HAS WON THE V.C. FOR PUTTING OUT A' FIRE IN HIS BLAZING 'PLANE. NOW THE FULL STORY HAS BEEN TOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME · BY THE PILOT, WHO WATCHED THE FIRE BY THE REFLEC- TIONS IN HIS WINDSCREEN.

This is the story told by Pilot Officer Arthur Connor, D.F.C.:-

"I want you to realise that Ser- geant Hannah had not only to contend with the raging flames but was called upon to extinguish them without at any time being able to pull himself up to his full height. Remember, too, that he was wearing full flying kit, which saved him from serious body burns but at the same time res- tricted his movements.

"If anybody had told me that only half the crew and three- quarters of the aeroplane would return to England I should have been inclined to laugh at them- but that's what happened.

"We

left in fine weather in

high clouds, and in due course we were over Antwerp. We started to make our bombing run, but found that we were not in line to make a good attack, so we turned, cir- cled round, and got into better position.

"It wasn't long, however, be- fore they got our range, and as we came round for the second attack we met a terrific bar- rage. We were hit in the wing on the way down several times, and the aircraft shook so much

that it was not easy to keep

control.

"However,

.

We released Our bombs and it was then that I saw flames reflected in my perspex

against the anti-aircraft

serious thought.

guns

cockpit and half the interior of the fuselage were charred ruins. There was a hole in the fuse- fage large enough for a man to crawl through.

"There were holes in the wings, but far more serious were the holes in the petrol tanks, and how the petrol didn't catch alight and undo all Sergeant's Hannah's good work will remain a mystery.

"I believe that Hannah was fully conscious of that danger: and concentrated on the flames he nearest the tanks before dealt with the other fires which broke out.

To make matters even worse, out the while he was beating lames thousands of rounds of am- munition were going off in all

directions."

BLACK BREAD

FOR THE BLACKSHIRTS

Finding his Spitfire on fire, the pilot used the disabled machine. to add to his bag,

He had split up a formation of Dorniers, sending some of them crashing, when he found smoke, com- ing from his tail.

Putting down the nose of his machine he set it direct at а Dornier.

+

Just before the colli-

sion, he jumped and landed safely in a

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NAZI AIR CLAIMS DOUBTED

-By Nazis

Within the past few weeks a change has been noted in the outlook of captured Nazi air crews.

One R.A.F. cfficer operating in the south-east area said that Ger- mans he has recently questioned have expressed doubt about the accuracy of the Luftwaffe's claim to have domination in the sky.

It must be stressed there is no reckless suggestion that the Ger- man Air Force is cracking up. Its men show no signs of that--n yet,

leaders

On the other hand, this doubt has not been noticed before. Occasionally Nazis under emo- windscreen, but I was so busy As proof of changes tional stress (possibly caused by taking violent evasive action which Fascism brought to injuries) have made derogatory

statements about their that I didn't at Aveny Italy propagandists often and air-force. But they have been

said that for 17 years the exceptions. trains have run on time.

Little importance has beeń at- 'Not Too Bad'

tached to their remarks, as they But Italy has gone back to pre-were considered to be inspired by "While I was avoiding the shells Fascist days, so far as the time a desire, on the enemy's part, to -as best I could-Sergeant Han- table is concerned.

say what he, thought was expected The Press now nah called me

ask's prospec- of him. on the inter-com-

tive travellers to stay at home, The newly munication system and announ-

noted "doubt" have been something more concrete. ced, very quietly, in his marked while train services

halved. Scots accent, The aircraft- is-on

and Troop movements

coal fire' I asked him 'Is it very bad?' He replied 'Bad, but not too bad!' supplies from Germany have so "I immediately warned the disorganised traffic that few trains crew to prepare to abandon the; are left for the civilian.

The war took on a new shape aircraft. Besides this heavy stuff

judge from there was a lot of tracer shoot from October 5, to ing all round us, and I was not the Italian papers, because new very keen on my crew jumping restrictions have been: enforced through that. Their chance of from that date. landing unharmed would have! been small.

THAMES SHIP BAGS BOMBER

is

The British steamer Port Auck-

land, while in the Thames during

a raid shot down an enemy bom- bed which crashed in flames on the bank of the river.

A shell from the Port Auck· land's guns burst close under-

bomber. neath the German which caught fire and crashed In flames. One of the bomber's crew was seen to bale out. The Port Auckland (8,799 tons) is a London registered merchant vessel belonging to the Port Line,

New War Loaf "In the meantime the fire was

Elaborate regulations on how getting an even firmer hold. After

and when to get fat rations form three or four minutes of more

Simul- a feature of the Press. shells whizzing through

and us

are made past us I was relieved to find that taneously, complaints we were at last out of range, and by readers about the impossi- I think it must have been about bility of getting any fats at all.

But the greatest surprise is this time that my navigator and

the "new war loaf" plain Ltd. rear gunner jumped for it.

or

"The fact that the rear gunner did jump gave Sergeant Hannah more freedom of movement. While he was fighting the flames with

black bread without rolls white bread,

"Popolo di Roma," Count Volri's sheet, tries to cheer up its 'readers by reminding them that

his log book and with his hands I Britain is a huge fire from Lori- could feel the heat getting neardon to Edinburgh.” and nearer to the back of my Saying that "everybody's bread

neck.

has changed for, the worse, even that of the English,” the paper

Ripped Mask Off adds: "Bread will be 85 per cent. "At first. Hannah was wearing pure and will have a high ash his oxygen mask, but the fumes and cellulose content, so neces were evidently too strong and he sary for public health. It ought found himself beginning to suf- to be tasty, if the bakers make focate. So, without hesitation, he It properly." ripped the mask and dashed tain is a matter for speculation.

What the 15 per cent. will con- through the fire Heedless of the burns which he could not possibly avoid:

"After about ten minutes; which seemed like hours, 1 no- ticed the reflection in the wind- screen had diod down and, that In place of the heat at the back

MONKS FIGHT

ABBEY FIRE

of my neek there was a welcome Monks fought a fire at the Cis- and refreshingly cool breeze, tercian Monastery on Caldey "Presently Sergeant - Hannah Island, opposite Tenby, South scrambled into my cockpit. and Wales, with buckets, brought me the navigator's maps But the binze was still spread- so that I could steer a course foring when Tenby Fire Brigade home

reached the island by boat, with "His face was badly burned, his a pump. The fire was then soon flying suit was scorched all over. got under control. He looked a sorry sight. Through The bells in the church, tower it all he was grinning...

crashed and the library of the

"When I looked at the mach Abbey Church and the dormitory Ineon the ground: 1 got,.aome were damaged,,ANS idea of what he had gono]-The Monastery is occupied by through; Tho • roan, gunnerai French Cisterciang.

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