As already mentioned, although the goosenecks weren't very bright, the contrast against a very dark night in a black-out would have been sufficient.
The pilot was obviously experienced, Dry Drayton is on the extended runway line so he's lined up and that suggests that the goosenecks are visible.
If the plane was damaged and control was compromised, it would be common for the pilot to order the crew to bail out if he wasn't certain of getting it down safely.
Fuel starvation is a possibility, on finals there would be very little decision time, the intruder attack in the circuit is unlikely as radar equipped intruders weren't around until 1942/3.