1955-04-09 — Page 6

Page

.6

EXPLOITS of the

GOLDFISH CLUB

*One detall however w still missing, and not to de discovered for TIL GTA V months. Towards the 'end of the rear Professor Lindemann. note Lord Chemoell, told me that the Germans had atted their night 1ghters with a new kind of radar set. Little was known about it except that it was called "Lichten- "atein and was designed for hunting our bombers. It was imperative to ind out more about it before the start of our air ofen- sipe. On the night of December 2, 1942, an at- craft was presented as a deco"...、

Winston S. Churchill, *The Second World War."

P

ILOT-OFFICER

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, APRIL 9, : 1955.

How much can man endure? Today the China Mail starts to tell the most thrilling of all stories of what the human spirit can rise to... of the unique fraternity of airmen who came down in the 502 and survived

THE NIGHT

WE SNATCHED

THE GERMANS'

H. radar, Jórdan

G. JORDAN walked

back to his quarters

Wbs

to

tell

igaray, the wireless operator, and he would pass a « coded message directly to base.

Then

from briefing, deep when he was sure, when he could say without any doubt in

in thought.

It would be cold in

Wimpey tonight. There

the transmission of the new Geman A. I, and the

the his mind, this

was frequency is so-mid-so, he would

no heating half-way down instruct. Big to send a second the fuselage where his coded group to base, and as far equipment was as the planners were concerned

special

mounted.

it didn't matter then what happened to the aircraft, As planners were far

19

concerned.

the

RADAR

SECRET

He wondered if they wouki ever be successful in locating and

Tonight the main force of. Paillon, the pilot-a Canadian confirming the frequency of the

Certainly aircraft were bombing Frank like the rest of Jordan's crew. new German radar.

fort, Jordan's aircraft would "I've got something peculiar the Germans had been far too

link

main stream here. up with the risk

I don't suppose it's any canny to

newly their equipped aircraft on flights out some hundred miles or so before thing, but it might be. Some

Then, just before thing I've never seen before side occupied Europe, so there the target. was no chance of capturing the they reached Frankfort, they anyway, I'll call you again in

would turn north and stay on a minute.? equipment. It seemed that these

course for decoy flights were

the only this new

minubes. possible way.

Unmolested

THEY had now Bown 17 times to targets in Germany invit- ing interception, and 17 times they had been unmolested, while

some

الله

"Roger." * Jordan felt within him the If anything

profound followed them, "awakening of they could be almost sure that excitement, the culmination of

German +

radar- weeks of tension equipped night fighter.

it

was

Excitement

The conviction was growing in him every moment that the source of activity on his equip- ment was the new Lichtensteia.

But for practical purposes 11

still .no more

than a was suspicion. The questing aircraft was some miles distant and its signals were weak. He spoke to Bigoray.

other aircraft were being shot JORDAN'S aircraft took off at down with uncanny facility by two minutes past two that the newly equipped Hun fighters, night and set course for Frank- It was almost as if Jerry knew fort five minutes later. that the old Wellington le trois

They crossed Belgium unevent 1474 Flight was up to no good. fully and joined up with the Their main worry at dest had main bomber stream. Now was been, to ensure that the "neces- the time to look for an inter-

cies was passed back to the U.K. before disaster overtook the structed so as to pick up the gressively stronger. They would decoy aircraft.

turning questing radar radiations

"Send the first coded group with the Agure 492.”

Meanwhile the signals from

From the astrodome they saw the Ju 88′ pair above them, its pilot evidently mystified.

Hardly had the Ju 88 broken away from its first attack when a second attack developed from starboard.

Turret jammed

JORDAN was hit in the jaw.

Drawing:

by

ROBB

by RALPH BARKER

Throughout the period of the attack Byoray bad been send- ing the precious message re- peatedly, without receiving any acknowlediment, Apart from the few moments when he 'went forward, be bad never left his set, He finally* received acknowledgement at 0305, minutes after the attack started,

Shattering

Joined tks BAM Vin radio operator air-gumber to 1940 a 222^» pleted 2.000; Hyg hours betura dən moblitzl ~! tion 2 rejoined 'B.LF, 1948.

for drust

and shouted at Bigoray to jump, Bigaray looked down, sow that he was stil over the sea, and refused to go. "Someone' must have made a mistake. Even when it was d to him- JORDAN went back into the that they were

fuselage Here he lay for he was unconvinced. sotne tile. The temporary Jordan made up his mind. collapse in his nervous resistance They couldn't afford to apend accompanied by a nerve any more time flying round in shattering pain in his head. He circles. He reached down and to be of grabbed realised that if he was to further uge

be must try to get a

4

as n

grip on himself. He struggled to his feet, and went forward to talk to Paulton.

Rigoray by the shoulders and pushed.

Bigoray landed safely din Famsgate.

'Here we go

PAULTO

"How are we malding, out, Ted?

"We're still airborne," said Paulton,

looks like

might make it we go."

we

AULTON · tumed the aluminque.ft. once again and headed out to sea. Now for the ditching.

"Jettison escape hatches. Here with any luck. He lost height 14 rapidly as But what do

we do.

No

when he could without gaining speed

and then strOM

miles out to mea

we get there?ppreciably about three NO throttle he began a long low fat,ep- control, only proach towards the open beaches one alleron, no under-carriage, near Deal, easing the sticks back no daps. no brakes. I daren't gently of intervals

to reduce risk a landing."

"What do you plan to do,

He still had no airspeed indi- then?"

entor and could only guess at Paulton was silent for a the aircraft's

speed from the. moment, turning over the possi- feel of the remaining controls. bilities in his mind.

"I

¿

The answer

When he thought he had re- duced speed down to about 100 knots he pulled the stick back into his belly and the Welling- ton sankt slowly on to the water COULD ditch her," he said. Bever

Everyone was braced for the could ditch her off shock and the aircraft came whole English tranquilly to rest about: 200. What about that?" yards off the coast near Deal That sounds like the answer.” Vachon, standing up under the

release dinghy

shore, Channel

anxi

they

of 482 magacycles which in all probability came from an A.I Lichtenstein Bghter," he said. "I've logged the characteristics of the signal, and there's no doubt that we've already got a good deal of gen. If we dive now to get clear of the stream, turn through 180 degrees and set

we should fell back into the 'weil course for home, manage to evade the fighter. On of the aircraft, but struggled to Then he pushed them through "

wei Y1 ke bar, Well Jettisoned astro-natch, palled the other hand, if we carry on his feet again to watch for the the hole in the fuselage. the

next attack. investigation we shall almost direction of the

Jordan watched grimly while cross the Channel the shortest the certainly ve caught and "Pecay" - Grant the

from

her down about The dinghy had inflated, but attacked."

gunner, put in a burst as they masticated the sheet of way and ditch off the Kent scrambled out on to the wing

Now it halt # mile one fighter broke away and this signals were printed. evidently decided the Hun pilot they crashed, one would get in the dinghy and paddle like a sonk-away

that their mission had ashore. It's a

It's a natural" to put the front turret out of know

pouring in through Inaum and

back -stepped Yawing well. action as

Grant was been any different from that of

one bullet-holes. They serable engine at a

high on to the half-submerged wing. wounded in the leg. The turret an ordinary bombes,

The others were scansing the It's your party...."

jammed and he could not get

They had lost height from boost, the Wimpey plodded on

down 14,000 Seet

across 500, and

last shore The Belgium. This was the answer Jordan "out,

in the hope of seeing rescue craft. Straight Paulton was at a loss to know hazard before they reached the signs of had looked for.

the anti- ahead of them they could see what

to attempt Channel was now manoeuvre

what looked

be & Royal When they were clear of the Marine station, with uniformed coast and out of range Agirea evidently preparing to

*Your party

DAULTON answered:

"Well

rice paper on which the coded coast. I'll shore. Then we it was gylling and bubbling

to

ready,

"See if you can free him; will. Wet However, owing to their aircraft barrage at Dunkirk.

"In that case I think we'll keep you, Big?" called Paulton, going according to plan. We know the probable detalls but we may

sary information about frequen-dan's special receiver, con- the questing aircraft grew pro- certain while we're here,"

of be

two

in north As soon as he received signals other aircraft, began to give minutes. He called Paulson. which he identified as being indications which could" not "at" "I've just sent a message to likely to have emanated from unce be recognised as emanating base telling them that I'm the new German di interception from friendly aircraft. He cried receiving signats on a frequency

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as well find out for to clear his message, went for- word. Meanwhile, Jordan could tell from his equipment that the the-Ju 88 was about to try an attack Jordan

called He from underneath, Vachon and Grant, but they were powerless to interfere and the aircraft was now defenceless,

"Stick

the nose down, Ted Jordan.

"Make him

They arned northerly leg at 0431. called the crew.

look now," he said think we're bring

the Wellington

height steadily.

1 called Bigorav

to

Water was

of the gas Paulton eased the launch some kind of craft.

stick back again and

Just when

it seemed certafo gained that the Royal Marines would He be first on the scene, a rowing-

boat appeared round: the

Pro- "Better send out an montory and bore quickly, down" SOS, Big. Tell them on them. The Marines were we're going to at launching two motor-boats bur tempt

ditching

the rowing-boat would beat somewhere

the them to i

88 was Anding its choice of French Bigoray, who was still trying proximity to the ground the manoeuvre more restricted, aunt now that the Welling- ton was flying so low fts outline easily inte dark the merged

Jordan background. knew that if only they could shake the fighter off for a moment its be rader would not effective at this height, He went forward and spoke to Paulton.

called

"Don't

followed."

The range began to close more overshoot." rapidly and Jordan warned the, Faulton held the nose down. for B moment and crew again. He could only make stoeply

"We've got to shake la rough estimation of distance avoided the full cone of fire, but

this fellow off some- but by the time they turned on a stray shell caught Bigoray as

*TTY to the homeward leg at 0442 his he went forward to free Grant, how," he said.

can't get at Feeny for the turning back towards receiver was becoming saturated

said Bigoray. He the target" and be computed the range at moment," less than one mile.

went back to his set and began transmitting his message again

"Towards the tar

zain get?" The saturation of Jordan's saying thing of his injuries yes. His A.I.'s no him at this that same Barry, the navigator, then went good to receiver culminated

It we moment in a burst of cannon forward and succeeded in get. height.

shake him off for a Are as the enemy fighter closed ting Grant out of the turret.

moment, that's the

to

within shooting range.

Vachon, the tall-guaner, trying

desperately to pick out the lines

of

an aircraft, saw nothing until

Point-blank

This is the badge of the Goldfish Club --Founded in

192 for all fliars who

had, either. haled out of i ditched? tä

the ses

last place he'll think looking for

LS."

13

off

Kent coast near Deal

sent

Eigoray the Stepped aboard

- SOS and · then re

were hailed by two message on Lichtenswarthy fishermen in the sprin in case it had not rowing boat

peated the last coded HEY

been correctly

18-

#Ahoy there!".

ceiver the first time. They waved and shouted at They reached the the fishermen, and as the English coast at 0720. rowing boat pulled alongside the Paulton called the sinking aircraft: they stepped in

the sea one by one

Simultaneously the

Paulton turned sharply back the fighter's gindre disclosed its Nin, and a hall of can- watching from

NOW the fighter fred from towards the target and Bars position. He swung his turret

mon fire tore through the fabric saw the Ju Ba pass nearly one else answered be flipped undo the Marines. Determined to towards it and shouted. "It's

the estadome,

I'm going to ditch flowed in

the two Royal as soon as it's day- light, fellers," he said. Marine motor-boats appeared on the scene

arriving in a Burry of "Can't possibly get her down on wash and rocking the overladen STUDway. "Is there anyone

But the two Men of Kent had who'd rather bale put over land rowing-boat, dangerously, before, we ditchanapa

not put out in their rowing-boat Biguray waited, and when no

to, surrévader; the glory of rescue his microphone

#1 guess: Fd at the fuccinge by Jordan's thousand feet above them, on a

keep their rescue to themselves, equipment

This time Jondan different course, a pilot good up in and they glared scorfully at the

a lot was hit in the eye. Dazed and evidently mystified Soon they let me that to be tick trim Royal Marina, motor-boats. sturmed, his head drenched with lost sight of it altogether.

I'm not sure

"Take them ther bouts,

away," blood, he felt no distress or fear

good

at getting out in a my they said, "We'ms doing this " Barry went forward again "Have a look at him, will you, EFORE be could steady the of insecurity, only

revengedl ander Somehow from the astrodome to pick up Jordie?" Jordan, could see that turret and train his guns, they must htt back

the threads of navigation and Bigoray had lost a lot of blood

Paulton set from the wounds in his blinded, shortly afterwards

legs, Panitia bad begun a series of He wasions were course or name.

It was Retie

Ju 88. Port quarter."

Stinging pain

BE

vidient corkscrew, farms, Jordan, and if further

* passionate

| realising that there could be no, to be made he must hate help. more than a gesture. Ee knew for this to Paulton,

with

He

was riddled the Somewhere, where he

and shock in his left art" and "Dox had been shot away, was shot away and the engade the distance. the

We'll

We'll try and drop him on further doubt that the signals He called Barry to come back that the aircraft

of a town," said be had been receiving came from and help him, but his micro- holes and badly damaged. Paulton... the new Lichtenstein, turned phone and headphones жете he wondered how long he won't. land on a rooftop but to tell Bigpay to send the dead; be looked down and saw would be able to keep it under won't be so isolated that he'll second coded group.

As he dimly that his inter-communica control The starboard throttle be liable to bleed to death." In turned he felt a stinging pain

tion

town of began to crawl forward was stack at phus-three boost, Ramsgate wes ning

Uits knew that he had been hit, through the fuselage to enlist The port throttle was jammed myriad shoots through the soil

and inoperable. Delpy

Both engines of night We'll drop • him on "Get the second message out, Barry's

Navigation

were running

sad the edge of Ramsgate. Blg.. It's Lichtenstein all right.

roughly

Wellington Frequency 482. Get that out at while, the aircraft was still irregularly and he had to Paulton held

and Barry steady

on course spiralling and corkscrewing and control over them, Jordan brought Barry back and

prepared to give Bigray Vachon had found the Ju 88 tried to explain to him how to

signal

to jump. Just then and was pouring, .303 bullets at

Bigoray remembered something.... it from

haven't clamped the key the rear turret gums. Continue operating the equip Jordan, his left arm limp at his

all costs."

Kerst.

the

continual

impossible

attacks of the

Sitting target

the

side, continued to operate his There was still no respite from MAKING any kind of landing down," he said,

"Can I do 17 asked Jordan. equipment and to log the results. night fighter. Vachon was hit affair. There

would be a most trazardous

where several "Must do it mysel," said Another long burst of cannon

Both Bigorny In spite of his wounds from the Ju 88 was directed in the hand and Fery wounded men on board.

went back and took over in the turrets were jamed and they he pushed past Jordan point blank at the rear but, astrodome.

Vachon, wounded in the

It now seemed to fondan that would be a sitting target if in- dragged himself back to his set.

tercepted aga

There be clamped down the shoulder, suddenly found his

slenderest

transmitter key, "That mean controls seizing up and knew they had not even the

chance of avoiding destruction. Pruton decided to try to gain they can get a bearing on you. that the turret was unservice. He angered his precious notes. more height. He eased the Up to the time of the ditching no: one Whatever happened they must stick back and was greatly en- anyway. You'll see that Big

trying desperately not fall into enemy hands..couraged when the aircraft touches it, won't you?" hand to clear his message bezore He picked up his pages of answered. He climbed slowly Harry was timing the drop it was too late, could raise no notes and tore them deliberately to 5,000-feet and then levelled exactly and he gave the signal reply from base.

Auto hundreds of tiny pieces, out

Tabla,

MANDRAKE THE_Magician

| LOOK, METER KERM, YOU PAID TEN

MILLION FOR THEM PITCHERS. WHAT'S

ONE MEASLY MILLION

TO GET EM BACK?

YOU DARE TALK

LIKE THIS BEFORE THE POLICE

'THEY'RE COOL ONES TAKE.

THEM TO ACELL

so the second. Jordan, saw..it

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis

CAIN'T ADMITTING NOTHING BUT I HEARD THERE'S A TIME BOMA

IN THE BOX WITH THEM PITCHERS. AN EIGHT-DAY CLOCK-

IF IT GOES OFF, GOOD-BYE,PITCHERS! GOOD-EYE, EVIDENCE! GOOD-BYE, TEN MILLION ? GOT IT?-

Postscript

JORDAN, who lost his right-

eve as a result of his Wounds, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his part in this- action. stayed on in the Service after the war,

granted a permanent commission, and is note a squadron-leader. Paution and Barry," who received back- dated commissions in 18 R.C.A.F immediately after. ward there marded his 132C and Vachon Bigoray and Grant the* DiFM, Barry B ALOUD: G squadron leader in the RCAP. at Ottawa, The self-efacing Bigoray, who was commissioned soon afterpards, was killed on operations in 1944.

From the pobit of view of the Radio War the fight was com- pietely successful, and enabled the experts to unravel the last knot in the German air defence network To quote Churchi again. The gap in our know ledge of the German · night defences was closed"

[These extracts are from "Down in the Drink," to be. published by Chatto, and

Why Windus] NEXT WEEK

Mutiny in the air!

TALK

ABOUT

MAGIC!

Have you seen

Admiral

AIR CONDITIONERS D BEAR AND REFRIGERATORS