SUBMARINE HUNTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1943, Page 2

SUBMARINE HUNTS

N.Z. AIRMEN'S WORK FLYING CROSSES GAINED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday Aerial submarine hunting in northern waters is mentioned in the citations accompanying the awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross to two members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Flying-Officer Ivan Reid Mitchell, formerly of Waiotira, North Auckland, and HarQld Arthur Poole, formerly of Invercargill. The citation to Flying-Officer Mitchell's award says. As a navigator, he sighted a U-boat when his aircraft was engaged on anti-submarine duties. He immediately attacked the vessel as ,it was submerging and inflicted serious damage. Four days later, he was again navigator of an aircraft which so damaged a U-boat that it was beached. In this attack his aircraft was seriously damaged. In spite of this fit was flown back to its base, its safe retucn being largely due to Flying-Officer Mitchell's tenacity and initiative. On later occasions, Flying-Officer Mitchell participated in further determined attacks on U-boats and displayed the utmost courage and perseverance. Since May, 1941, Flying-Officer Poole has flown on many operational duties involving attacks on enemy shipping, patrols along the Dutch coast and anti-submarine duties in the North Atlantic, Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean, says the citation. He has made several successful attacks on enemy U-boats and also damaged a Junkers 88 which was attempting to shadow a convoy. He is a hard-working, conscientous, courageous pilot.