The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-18
|NAZI AIRMEN SAY
BRITISH SHIPS HIT
CONTINUED From Page One)

4Ollllo1l 1lOlI1C 11CCL 1ldu bSOil
to Scapa Flow.
1--WE waited for days, loaded r
fully, prepared for weather which
would be most favorable because
we did not want to experience what
the British did Dec. IS (when the
Germans said they shot down 36
British Vickers- Wellington bombers
over Helgoland Bight)," said Major
Doench.
Gust before flying off we talked
our plan v once more and then
departed. We flew a roundabout
way because we were not foolish
enough to go directly. We came
toward the Orkneys from the east
and still could see we'll. ut was
about twilight.)
Many Ships
1.-The surprise was so great the
British apparently were at their
evening meal. Before us was such
an endless number of ships we had
trouble picking out which n we
should make the target.
1--WE hit four of the biggest, each
at least n directly with LOCO
Founders.
"Other bombs landed close beside
the ships so that they lifted into
the air and settled back into the
water.
For half an hour as we circled
about from the north we saw huge
columns of flame. About 1855 p,
m. We disappeared into the dark
ness toward home"
Twenty-six-year old First Lieu
tenant MacMagnussen, a short.
nervy pilot who has participated in
Is flights against Britain, said 1--WE
flew toward the Orkneys sometimes
so high we had to use OXYGEN, some
times through brief rain and sleet
storms. Our radioman entertained
us by playing hot music on his
harmonica, which was relayed to
the others by our radio system. AS
we approached the Orkneys there
were no clouds, henc it was I'M
favorable for us because the Eng
fish could quickly spot us.
All was quiet on board as we flew
to attack one of the warships most
f%avorably situated.
Calm Command
1.-The attack begins was the calm,
crisp command.
"The outlook in the nose OF the
ship guided me.
"'Now a little to the right, now a
little to the left he said.
Then 1 sensed the plane tighten.
ing. The bombs were dropping. 1t
was a few seconds before I learned
the results. Then our bomber called,
we hit, she's burningv
THE prov Of the boat was envel-
oped in a cloud of smoke which
spread so that the entire craft soon
was buried in a black mass.
Tongues of red flame shot out.
We made a few curves to watch the
fireworks. Anti-aircraft firing ap
peared to be painless shooting, as
though the English were not able
to see us.
"Then came the warning that pur
suits were on our tail. I rose in
spirals, stepped on the gas. AS we
departed into the darkness we saw
another great torch spring up. APP
parently another big one had beer
hit"
First Lieutenant Homo Philips
"a, an observer, proudly wearing the
iron cross, said the assignment tt
his unit was to attack for the first
time British airports protecting
Scapa Flow in order to keep as many
British pursuit planes grounded as
possible.
ION the out-trip," Philips said
I'VE were tense because it was the
first raid on a British airport. We
headed for Earth House first. Coming
out of the east our objective lay clear
before us. We let u row of bombs
go. We saw bomb after bomb strike
clouds of dirt as they struck the
runways, then the bright fire Of
burning hangers.
During the attack British pur-
suits tried to reach us from below
but we turned off and disappeared
into the night"
All the fliers said their planes sui.
fered only small damage as a result
of shell splinters.