FIGHTER UNIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1941, Page 4

FIGHTER UNIT.

< DOMINION SQUADRON.

25 SPITFIRES PURCHASED.

Costing over £6200 each, 25 Spitfire planes purchased with the £150,800 subscribed in the Dominion last year are to be flown by the New Zealand Fighter Squadron which ie now in the process of being formed. Some of the pilots of the new squadron have been completing their training in Scotland. For a start the ground staff will be largely New /calenders, but it is anticipated that the squadron will eventually consist solely of New Zealand personnel. In command of the squadron will be Squadron-Leader M. B. W. Knight, son «f* Mrs. A. B. Knight, of Dannevirke.

The planes arc to be named after the provinces which raised the money, and the letters "N.Z." will follow the name on eadi machine. There will be Auck1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Wellington 1, 2 and 3, Southland 1, 2 and 3, Canterbury 1 and 2, Hawke's Bay 1 and 2, Taranaki 1, and Marlborough, West Coast and Nelscln J. Other machines are to be imnied N.Z. 1, 2 and 3, Northland, Waikato and Country Women. The lastmentioned is the Spitfire purchased withl the £5000 subscribed by the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union.

At present there is a New Zealand Bomber Squadron in Britain, and the pilots and other members of the crews have won distinction for themselves and the Dominion.