NEW ZEALAND FLYER'S DEEDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 39, 16 February 1943, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FLYER'S DEEDS

SQUADRON-LEADER

Won D.S.O. And D.F.C. With Bar At Age Of 22

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 15. To be a squadron-leader, with the D.S.O. and the D.F.C. with bar at the age of little more than 22 years is the outstanding record of a Rangiora youth, Maechel Anthony Ensor. He is one of the very few New Zealand airmen to win this triple honour —the only others of whom i have records at present are Wing-Com-mander Trevor Freeman, of Dunedin, and Wing-Commander E. P. vv ells, of Cambridge. , . , Squadron-Leader Ensor achieved this success in 12 months. It is just about a ' year ago, when he \y as pilot-officer, that the starboard engine of his Lockheed Hudson struck a ' snow-capped rock while fiy height of about 100 feet after hrttmS a German supply ship near Heligoland. He had to switch off an engine and fly with one engine, and he aia not know that his gyro-compass was damaged and ISO degrees out until he was flying over Holland. His ancraft ran into intense anti : aii cratt fire, "like somebody spraying red sparks upwards from a giant hose pipe." He then flew through a snow storm, landing eventually only M miles'off his course. That night he won the D.F.C. award, which was announced on February 18 of last year. Adventures in Africa N "--, Squadron-Leader Ensor was aWarded the bar to his D.F.C. in October last, the citation laconically stating that he completed numerous sorties, "including too well-executed attacks on U-boats." Squadron-Leader Ensor was equally laconic, remarking, "Oil came from two U-boats. We also think we got a third." Squadron-Leader Ensor then took part in the French North Africa landings, which he observed from the air. "There were dozens of Üboats around," he said. He got one of them but nearly blew up his aircraft. After he had scored a direct hit witn ' depth charges his Hudson shot up 300 feet like a rocket. "When I steadied the plane I found that the rudders and elevators had been blown off, the ailerons damaged and about six feet of each wingtip bent upwards almost at rightangles," he said. Then followed a nightmare trip to Algiers. Sometimes the nose of the plane dipped so that the crew had to run to the tail to balance the aircraft. Then the tail would drop and the crew would run back to the nose. The aircraft finally reached Algiers Bay, when the port, engine cut out and all ,the crew had to bale out. With Squadron-Leader Ensor on that trip was Flight-Lieu-tenant H. G. Holmes, Christchurch, who was awarded- the D~b .u. Others "Win Distinction Squadron-Leader Ensor won the D.S.O. on that flight to Algiers. It 'was his second lucky escape, but certainly was not all luck. His coolheadedness and quick thinking on both occasions saved him and his crew. .... w - Squadron-Leader Ensor is not the only young New Zealand airman to win the distinction of rapid promotion—R. M. Trousdale, of Howick, and E. H. McHardy, of Waipawa, both little more tham 21, are both wing-commanders with the D.F.C. and bar—but few boys of SquadronLeader Ensor's age in the R-A.F. have triple decorations. His latest award recognises outstanding services by New" Zealanders in three different commands — SquadronT eader Ensor in coastal flights, Squalen Leader Wells in the fighter service and Squadron-Leader Free man in the bomber section. The Mustang pilot, Flymg-Officer w S Watson, of Gisborne, came back to*his base with a large rent m the wing-tip of his plane after attacking a train in northern France on February 13. He attacked the tram with another pilot, who shot up the engine, which' Exploded, causing clouds of steam to rise, FlyingOfficer Watson fired his guns and was flying through the steam when he "felt ax slight buriip. • When he returned to his base he found that hie starboard wing was damaged.