At about 9.30 am Jap fighters attacked the flying boat.
Cannon and machine gun fire set the aircraft on fire.
The crew jumped overboard, but Ireland made his way
to the flight deck to the rubber dinghy.
The Japs made their third run against the aircraft and
Ireland was slightly wounded, and his face and chest
were scorched from the flames. He reached the front
door while the attack was at its height, when a petrol
tank exploded - there were 5,800 litres of petrol aboard.
Ireland was thrown into the water, but he managed to
keep hold of the dinghy.

Inflating the rubber dinghy, Ireland picked up the crew
and rescued four Dutchmen and a wounded Dutch woman
who were in the water. As the flying boats were anchored
nearly two kilometres offshore and a strong ebb tide wa
s running, most of those lives might have been lost , but
for Ireland's courage and presence of mind."


Above: Short Empire Class flying boat A18-10
Below: Empire flight deck

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