In November
1941, Bernard Palastanga was reported
missing from a raid on Germany, although
the plane from which he disappeared
landed safely in England:
"We gather that the aircraft was
returning from its objective and was
over the Zuider Zee when the pilot saw
another plane flying in the opposite
direction, which he told his crew was a
Hampden. The rear-gunner called through
'Are you sure?' and then reported, three
minutes later, that an M.E. was closing
in at 50 yards. The enemy sent tracers
over the top of the pilot's head,
shooting away the wireless mast, so the
pilot turned away. Then the rear-gunner
told him to dive, which he did at 400
m.p.h.
"It is thought that this sudden, fierce
dive threw Bernard forward, pulling out
his inter-com., and receiving no reply
to a question, seeing tracers all around
the pilot and with the 'plane diving at
such speed, thought they were out of
control and got out. He went out
complete with parachute and 'Mae West',
so presuming he baled-out successfully
we should hear in the fullness of time
that he is safe and well."
Bernard's family had to wait for nearly
a year before they had confirmation of
his death: his body had been recovered
from the sea, and was buried in the
Netherlands.
