A Maryland aircraft similar to the one in which FLTLT John Carroll narrowly escaped death in WW11

Royal Air Force Transport Command Crews on return to No. 113 South Atlantic Wing, based in Nassau in the Bahamas, during World War II had many tales to tell of their experiences flying directly over, or in the vicinity of, the Bermuda Triangle, while ferrying planes to destinations in the UK, Africa and India.

Like other RAAF members attached to RAF Squadrons, I heard of some strange happenings, such as aircraft and crews disappearing without trace, and storms and lightning so severe that aircraft were left without vital navigation equipment.

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the 'Devil's Triangle', covers an area of ocean about 1,140,000 square kilometres in size, encompassing the Caribbean and a section of the Atlantic Ocean.

Over the years, many ships and planes have mysteriously disappeared in this eerie part of the world, however, it must be said that military and commercial craft cross this area safely every day.

When planes and ships have gone missing, searchers have seldom found bodies or survivors, although wreckage from a number of ill-fated craft has been salvaged.

Some scientists believe that violent, unexpected storms or downward air currents are to blame for destroying ships and planes.

This, I believe, was the case in one particularly memorable event, which I can assure readers is a true story.

On 24 May 1944, my crew was detailed to deliver a Maryland aircraft to Accra, in Gold Coast Africa, now known as Ghana. The Maryland was a very lonely aircraft for the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner due to the separation from other crew members, which was not unlike the plight of Tail Gunners.

The position the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner occupied during long delivery flights saw them sit in an isolated compartment well back from the pilot and behind the navigator tunnel. The area could only be accessed by small steps that folded out from the belly of the aircraft.

I have often wondered at the choice of location for the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. Perhaps the mid-upper turret determined that.

On the leg of the delivery flight from Trinidad to Belem, Brazil, our flight encountered severe storms and heavy rain off the coast of French Guinea.

Severe downward air pockets had to be negotiated and the rain was so heavy that water began to fill the floor of my compartment. At one stage I noticed my cap floating at my feet. I bent down to retrieve it and when I raised my head I noticed my communication light was glowing.

'Prepare to ditch', the pilot said.

I looked out my tiny window and saw that, at that stage, we were about 50 metres above the ocean. I immediately sent an SOS, clamped down my Morse key and waited in fear. I knew there was no chance of escape due to my location - the engines had both lost power and we all sat back and awaited our fate.

Suddenly one engine regained power and we began to climb. Then, the second engine, encouraged by the first, chimed in and we soon regained altitude.

On arrival at Belem, Brazil, our crew learnt that a Pan American airliner had intercepted the SOS and had acted accordingly until advised of our position. 113WG Transport Command, to my knowledge, lost several Mosquito aircraft during my posting to the area.