Spiering

By the time the two ships were in sight Spiering had the signal lamp ready and Bongardts put the aircraft into a shal - low dive towards the pocket battleship.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

Spiering told Bongardts to steer a south-westerly course, and as the Arado climbed, the two men carefully watched for any sign of smoke or ships.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

Spiering had not been in the air long before he saw smoke on the horizon, and he told the pilot, Bongardts, to approacty in a wide sweep.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

Spiering was not sure — but as they were almost at extreme visibility range he thought they prob - ably had not.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

Langsdorff decided that if there was no steamer in sight at dawn, Spiering should fly off in the Arado and, taking a zig-zag course, carry out a search.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

As soon as she was in sight he put the aircraft into a shallow dive and then circled her while Spiering signalled the news.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

However, we cannot speculate too much: the Cumberland did in fact alter course 30 degrees at 0638 and was spotted by Spiering at extreme visibility range, and by that chance the Graf Spee escaped detection.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

Had she steered a course which took her 10 miles farther to the south-east she would probably not have been sighted by Spiering in the Arado and would have come upon the Graf Spee and Altmark.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

While Spiering watched it closely through binoculars, Bon - gardts swung the Arado away to starboard, through 180 de - grees, until they were flying back along their own track.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956

After a few minutes, when they had flown 30 miles and reached latitude 9° south, Spiering gave the pilot another course — this time due north.

Graf Spee Pope, Dudley 1956