NEW ZEALAND ACES

BEST FIGHTER PILOTS

OVER 500 VICTIMS

A list of New Zealand ace fighterpilots (men who have destroyed five or more enemy aircraft) has been compiled for "The Post" by Mr. Hamish G. Hay, of 79 Puriri Street, Riccarton. He states that it has been made up after careful study of such data as he has been able to obtain, and invites relatives or friends to communicate with him in order to keep his list up to date. The list gives the number of victories standing to the credit of each pilot:— Group Capt. C. F. Gray, D.5.0., D.F.C, and 2 bars,, K.A.F./ 27% - Flying Officer E. J. Kain, D.F.C.. K.A.F. (killed in aircraft accident) 25 Wing- Cmdr. W. V. Crawford-Compton", D.S.O. aud Bar, D.F.C. and Baa-, U.S. Silver Star. Croix de Guerre, Czech Flying Badge, R.A.F 2iy> Wing Cradr. A. C. Deere, D.5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, U.S. D.F.C, Croix de Guerre, K.A.F 21}. Flight Lieut. R. B. Hesselyn, D.F.C, D.F.JI. and Bar. R.N.Z.A.F. (prisoner of war) 21% Squadron Leader E. D. Jlackie. D.F.C. ! and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. 18 j Squadron Leader J. A. Gibson, D.5.0., D.F.C. R.A.F. UYa Flight Lieut. G. .Stenborg, D.F.C. R.N.Z.A.F. (killed in action) 14 Plight Lieut. B. J. G. Carbury, D.F.C. and Bar, R.A.F 14 Flying Officer R. E. Le Long, D.F.C, R.X.Z.A.F 13 Squadron Leader W. G. Clouston, D.F.C, R.A.F. (prisoner of war) 12 Wing Cradr. J. M. Checketts, D.5.0., •D.F.C, U.S. D.F.C, U.S. Silver Star, Polish Cross of Valour, R.N.Z.A.F. 11% Wing Cmdr. K. P. Wells, D.5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F 11 Flight Lieut. G. .E. Jameson, D.5.0.. D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F 11 Squadron Leader D. F. Westenra, D.F.C. and Bar, R.A.F. 11 Flight Lieutenant 3. D. Rac, D.F.C. and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. (prisoner of war) 11 Flying Officer G. B. Fiskin, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F 11 Pilot Officer H. W. Hodgson, D.F.C, R.A.F. (killed in action) 11 Squadron Leader, M. J. Merrick. D.F.C. - and Bar, R.A.F. (killed in action)' 10% Group Captain P. G. Jameson, D.5.0., ' D.F.C. and Bar, Norwegian Star, R.A.F 10 Group Captain E. W. Whitley. D.5.0., D.F.C, R.A.F, . ' : 10 Wing Cmdr. M. V. Blake, D.5.0., D.F.C, R.A.F. (prisoner of war) 10 Squadron Leader G. K. Gilroy, D.5.0., D.F.C and Bar, R.A.F 9 ' Squadron Leader J. C. F. Haytcr, D.F.C. I and Bar, R.A.F 9 Squadron Leader J. N. McKenzie, D.F.C, R.A.F 9 Squadron Leader K. G. Hart, D.F.C, K.A.F. 9 Squadron Leader M. R. B. Ingram, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. (died of injuries) 9 Squadron' Leader E. L. Joyce, D.F.M., R.N.Z.A.F (missing) 9 Flight Lieutenant B. G. Collyns, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F. (killed in action) 8% Group Captain D. J. Scott, D.5.0., 0.8. E., D.F.C and Bar, Croix de Guerre, R.N.Z.A.F. 8 Wing Cmdr. R. J. C Grant, D.F.C. and Bar, D.F.M., R.N.Z.A.F. (killed in action) 8 Wing Cmdr. D. H. Hammond, D.5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F 8 Wing Cmdr. R. 2,1. Trousdale, D.F.C. and Bar, R.A.F. 8 Squadron Leader R L. Snurdle, D.F.C, R.A.F. '. 8 Flight Lieut. P. F. L. Hall, D.F.C. and Bar/ R.N.Z.A.F ■. 8 Wing Cmdr. R. D. Yule, D.5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, R.A.F . X Squadron Leader A. E. Umbers, D.F.C. . and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. (missing, believed killed) GV> Air Cmdre. H. D. McGregor, D.5.0., U.S. Legion of Merit, R.A.F 6 W Ting Cmdr. I. S. Smith, D.F.C. and Bar, R.A.F. ....... 6 Wing Cmdr. T. B. Fitzgerald, D.F.C, R.A.F. 6 Squadron Leader D. H. Ward, D.F.C. and Bar, R.A.F. (killed in action) 6 Squadron Leader P. W. Rabone, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F. (missing) 6 Flight Lieut. K. W. Tait, D.F.C, K.A.F. (killed in action) 6 Flight Lieut. 0. V. Tracey, D.F.C, . R.A.F. : (killed in action) 6 Flight Lieut. A. E. Browne, R.N.Z.A.F. 6 Flying Officer H. W. Chambers, D.F.C, R.N.z.A.F;:.;i^../.:...:.;;:.... 6 Squadron -Leader R. M. Mackenzie, D.5.0., D.F.C, A.F.C., R.A.F. 5 Squadron Leader P.. G. H. Newton, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F. 5 Squadron Leader J. R. C. Kilian, Croix de Guerre, R.N.Z.A.F 5 Flight Lieut. H. L. North, ■ D.F.C, R.A.F. (killed in action) 5 Flight Lieut. D. F. Livingstone, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F 5 Flight tieut, A. .M. Peart, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F. 5 Flying Officer J. Houlton, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F. 5 Flying Officer S. F. Browne, D.F.C, R.N.Z.A.F 5 Group Captain Colin F. Gray, the ■premier ace, is one of a large number of Royal Air Force pilots included in the list—men who accepted short service commissions with the R.A.F. before the outbreak of.war. Flying Officer. Kain's victories were never accurately recorded, and his score has sometimes been estimated at nearly 40. New Zealand's most decorated airman is Wing Commander W. V. Craw-ford-Compton, R.A.F., who has been •decorated seven times. He has received the following awards: D.S.O. and Bar, D.F.C. and Bar, U.S. Silver Star, •French Croix de Guerre, Czech Flying Badge. The highest scoring pilot of the R.N.Z.A.F. is Flight Lieutenant R. B. Hesselyn, of Christchurch, with 21_ confirmed victories, who is now a prisoner of war. Flight Lieutenant G. E. Jameson, of Rotherham, who recently returned to New Zealand, is the leading New Zealand night-fighter pilot, with 11 victories; including the brilliant feat of shooting down four in one night. Group Captain D. J. Scott is, at 25, the youngest group captain in the R.A.F. He left New Zealand as a sergeant, and his promotion has been meteoric. The 54 New Zealand ace fighter pilots have destroyed a total of at least 538_ Axis aircraft—a record . worthy of the admiration of every New Zealander.