CoodaShooda,
Yes, I hadn't thought of that. But he would have had to make sure he finished them both off (and even then, might they not have been able to get an anguished call out on the R/T ?) He took a huge risk !
Stanwell,
The plot thickens - could be we're on to something here. But two fatalities like this must have been investigated - there must be a paper trail. Do you have an Air Historical Branch in the RAAF ?
Curiously, I had my own near-death experience four days earlier, on 24.2.44.
Danny.