AIR PATROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23923, 25 March 1941, Page 4

AIR PATROL

WORK OF AUSTRALIANS THE "FLYING PORCUPINES" FINE RECORD OF SERVICE (O.C). SYDNEY, March 22 Vivid first-hand stories of the adventures of Australia's Short-Sunderland flying-boat squadron, known as the "Flying Porcupines," wore related by Wing-Conunanders C. W. I'carce and W. If. Caring, who returned to Sydney after 18 months' service with the squadron in Britain. The flying-boats were purchased from Britain for Australia's defence, but at the outbreak of the war they were retained, with the crews who had gone to fly them over, for reconnaissance duty. Since then they have often appeared in the news, but the tales, even after a careful censorship, that the Australian pilots had to toll make a thrilling record. Wing-Commanders J'earce and Garing are in Australia on undisclosed special duty, but their experience of actual combat with the Nazis under blitzkrieg conditions will he invaluable to embryo fighting crews with whom they come in contact in Australia. Not One Aircraft Lost In 18 months' continuous service, said the officers, the squadron had not lost a single aircraft. Jn that time the air crews manning its machines had carried out daily patrols over 10,000 miles of vital ocean routes, convoyed hundreds of merchant and naval vessels, shot down two bombers and had been credited with 15 probables and an indefinite number of uncertainties. That wonderful record was largely due to the skill and ingenuity of the Australian maintenance men. Not once had any of the machines been lorced down through engine or structural failure. They said that Nazi airmen have such a healthy respect for the Australian squadron that they will attack a "flying porcupine" only when they are in a majority of more than three to one. lOven then they are chary about, coming to close quarters. Decorations for Gallantry Wing-Commander Pearce was the first member of the Moval Australian Air Force to win the D.F.C. since the K.A.A.F. became an autonomous arm of the defence forces in 192!. In July, 1910, he was decorated for gallantry and continued devotion to duty. He commanded No. 10 Squadron for several months, and he successfully attacked an enemy submarine off the coast oi I'ort ugal. Wing-Commander Caring was decorated in October, 1910, for successfully repulsing three attacks by enemy aircraft on 11.M.5. Mooltan, formerly the I', iind (). liner. He commanded the Sunderland which rescued 4(5 survivors from the torpedoed refugee ship City of Henares, after they had been adrilt in the Atlantic for eight days, and in July, just before France capitulated, he flew the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Alexander, to France to meet. French naval officials. Wing-Com-mnnder Garing has since been mentioned in despatches.