TNA ADM 199 792

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I did not 300 the formation that made the attack, as WO were some distrindo
away and my attention was on the local situation. Not long after a compact
formation of about 30 or 40 J.U.87's appeared from the South-Wost. Everybody
opened fire on them and I watched the bursts which second to cover the whole
area of the formation. As this happened the formation opened out and covered
an over-increasing area and the burts spread out too, The five scould to be
effective and I thought it was driving them away, so much so that I left the
bridge for a moment. As I WO.G returning I felt that speed had. been increased
and the ship WAS hooling over under holm. I got to the whael house where every-
one was lying down and the Quartormaster was steering by means of the lower
spokes of the wheel. The ship hecled over suddenly and tea cupo skidded across
the dook. I had to hold on and tried to get up the bridge ladder, but there Keelth
were & couple of men on it blocking the way. Then there were three loud ex-
plosions and the ship shook and heaved as if she was hit. All this took only a
moment or two and by then I had got to the bridge. The ship was steaming fast
and steering incircles and I heard that three planes had made a dive-bombing
attack. One bomb had burst 10 yards astern and the helm had jammed. The others
had missed close by. Orders were given for hand steering and before long the
ship was under control again. The Captain gave orders for an anchor to be
cleared away. I heard a man moaning shaft the compass platform and went to see
what was the matter. One of the director's crew was holding on to the fingors
of one hand and I could not see that he was hurt. I hosed afterwards that he
had a large wound in his thigh and was bloeding very badly, and he must have
been hit by a stray splintor from one of the misses.
In a very short time three more planes COLLO into the attack. I looked
up as they dived at us, saw the bombs released and watched them as they foll,
Everyone on the bridge was lying or crouching down but there was not much room
and I could only find room to bend a bit,
It W&B an odd sensation waiting for the explosions and knowing that you
could do nothing. Whon they came it was obvious that the whin had been hit.
She shook badly and there W&B a rush of smoke and steam from somewhore att.
I made my way aft to see what the situation vas and formd & Chiof Stoker
shutting off stop valves is the steam pipe from the upper dook. No used that