1941-05-07 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 7, 1941..

CRAWLED IN 'PLANE FIRE TO SAVE PILOT

A BRITISH BOMBER lost height, crashed into a hillside, and burst into flames just after taking off with others for a night bombing mission to Italy. The captain of the 'plane extricated himself and saw three of his crew of four climbing out of the escape hatch.

He ordered them to run clear, then ran round the blazing wing in which full petrol tanks were burning, and crawled under it to rescue his injured second pilot.

Despite his own Injuries-a cracked kneecap and severe contusions on the face and legs -he dragged and carried the pilot forty yards from the air. craft to a hole in the ground. where he lay on him just as the bombs exploded.

This gallant deed was perform - ed the dark under difficult con- ritions, and in the certain know - ledge that the bombs and petrol tanks would explode.

The hero of this Incident was Sergeant Raymond Mayhew Lewin. His name was in D list of R.A.F. awards.

He has been awarded the George Cross-second only to the V.C.

Brave Padre

Sergeant Lewin was born at Kettering, where his father lives. He was a chemist before enlisting in 1936 as a pilot under training.

The name of a padre also ap- pears in the awards-the Rev. Stanley William Harrison, off Clare, Suffolk, who receives the George Medal.

An aircraft crashed and burst into flames about three miles from its aerodrome, and though it was not his duty to do so, Mr. Har- rison boarded the ambulance go- ing to the scene.

On arrival he plunged into the wreckage, and despite the scorching heat and exploding machine-gun bullets, dragged a member of the crew from the burning debris. He then supervised the work and led the firepicket himself. getting! out a second man, and helping to remove a third.

Saved Trapped Man

The George Medal also goes to Flight-Leutenant Donald Cecil Smythe, a Londoner, and Pilot- Officer Gerard Ryder, of Bicester, Oxon.

Smy be. Ryder and a sergeant were the crew of an aircraft which crashed and caught Are shortly after taking off. Sinythe and Ryder managed to extricate them- selves, but the sergeant was trapped in his cockpit.

In spite of the fire and ex - ploding incendiaries, the two officers re-entered the 'plane and extricated the trapped airman.

The George Medal has also been awarded to the following: Flying Officer Kenneth Leopold Nobbs (R.A.F.V.R.), Leading Aircraftman David Nelson, 2nd Class Aircraft- man William Joseph Whyte, and Pilot Officer John Tregon well Davison, New Zealand Air Force.

Davison's wireless operator, Sergeant Geoffrey William Brazier, has been awarded the Medal of the Military Division of the O.B.E. The O.B.E. (Military Division Medal) has also been awarded to Sergeant Alfred William Wood,

THE NEW COURAGE

EQUALITY

IN DEATH.

Squire's son, labourer's They should have son. the same kind of memor- ial if they give their lives for their country.

This was the gist of remarks made by Mr. H. King, Chancellor of the Chester Diocese at Chester Consistory Court,

SANDMAN HELPED VICTORIES

(BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)

In the garage of a house on Shooter's Hill, London, S.E., a man played ́with sand.

He pored over the minule grains through а microscope, weighed raised miniature desert storms with them.

them,

And this study helped to get the British Army to Bardia and Tobruk, Dorna and Benghazi, at a apced which sent the Italian Empire rocking on its heels. When Ralph Alger Bagnold, retired major of Signals, experi- mented in his father's garage, his researches were at first on an un- spectacular scale.

me.

"But they became more elabor- ate," Colonel A. H. Bagnold told "My son began to carry out experiments with wind tunnels raising his own sandstorms,

“Gave Italians Hell"

wwwww

"The stuff got all over the place and" with a laugh — "I had to turn him out in the end. Thereafter his more ambitious experiments were conducted at South Kensington." The story of Major Bagnold's achievements has now been dis- closed by Sir George Sansom. visiting professor itt Columbia University, New York, who said that Bagno'd's "passionate inter- est" in sand was at least partly Mr. King adjourned an applica-responsible for our North African tion made by Mr. S. B. Kerr, of triumphs. Frodsham, who applied for a faculty to place a memorial tablet at Frodsham Church to com- memorate his son, Flying-Officer Malcolm Kerr, who was killed over Dunkirk.

The Chancellor said:

"I think it is a sensible idea that the distinction in com. memoration should be as slight as possible. For instance, you might have a squire's son killed by a bomb, and a labourer's son killed in the air. The labourer's father probably would not be able to afford a memorial, but the aquire might, That points to a desirability of equality for the highest and the lowest in the matter of individual me. morials".

But Major Bagnold played more than an academic part in the Libyan campaign. He com- manded a select little party of officers who gave the Italians

hel'.

Setting out in specially equip- ved desert cars, the party made ferays far into the desert, popping up at the gates of distant garrisons and driving the Italians out into the arid sands.

"My son's fast trip before the war," said Colonel Bagnold, "was to the border of the Libyan desert and the Sudan; the objective raised plateau on a range of mountains.

h

"This plateau, the Gils Kebbir, was supposed to be inaccessible. but my son and his companions made light of the task, got on top of it with a car, and ran all over by the Chan-he flat. On that remote plateau cellor, and the matter will be dealt he found ancient footmarks in the with at the next Consistory Court., sandstone."

Mr. Kerr agreed to consider the suggestion made

R-A-F. ACTIVITY

IN MIDDLE EAST

VERY HEAVY R.A.F. bombing attacks on enemy aerodromes and landing fields in Cyrenaica are recorded in an R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states: "Iraq throughout Monday aircraft of the R.A.F. maintained constant patrols over Iraq positions outside Habbaniyah R.A.F. station,

Motor transport and personnel were bombed and several direct hits registered on gun positions. Results of the shelling of the R.A.F. station and of a little machine-gun fire were negligible.

Iraqi military positions were intercepted and shot down one bombed at Diwaniya and many JU 88 and damaged several others direct hits were obtained on while A.A. fire damaged several barracks and administrative, more. buildings.

Abyssinia-aircraft of the Motor transport at Falluja was R.A.F. and S.A.A.F. continued also hit.

harassing operations against the Cyrenaica-

heavy enemy in the few areas still held bombing attack was made during by them. the night of May 4/5 on Benghazi From all these operations two harbour, Benina aerodrome and of our aircraft, are missing." landing fields at Barce, Derna and British Wireless. Gazala.

very

At least five enemy aircraft wore destroyed by fire at} Benina, including one or more large. Focke-Wulf Condor troop carrying aircraft.

+

WIDOW'S £1,750

DAMAGES

Plea for a new form of courage -Anancial courage - so that the fighting Forces can be assured of the best war Implements was made by Lord Mottistone, Chair- man of the National Savings Com- mittee, when he opened Ely (Cam3 bridgeshire) War, Weapons week, Enemy aircraft were also Total agreed damages of £1,750 If we were to finance the war machine-gunned at Benina and were awarded by Mr. Justice successfully without enduring the Derna while fires and explosions Cassels in the King's Bench Divi- occurred at Benghazi and Barce, slon to Mrs. Joan Kathleen Berry,

who has a baby daughter, in re spect of the death of her hus-. band, Mr. William Andrew Berry,

evils of inflation, he said, the volume of savings must be con- siderably increased,

Heavy Damage

"I appeal to you frankly to double your effort. The nation Our fighters and bombers were commercial traveller, of Denver stands united and resolute. Our active attacking enemy mechanis-Road, Dartford, Kent. achievements on the sea and ed units in the Bardia, El Adem He was a passenger in a car In. the air, and recently Capuzzo and Sollum areas, which was in collision with in North and East Africa Considerable damage was done lorry owned by. Mr. Noel Douglas on the land, show that we have to vehicles and personnel.

Thorne, of Mareschal Road, Gulld-

the power to strike great blows Crate enemy aircraft raidedford, against whom judgment with In the cause of freedom,”!

Crete on May 4 but our fighters costs was entered.

Page

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