SEARCH FOR CONVOYS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 6

SEARCH FOR CONVOYS

N.Z. PILOT’S PATROLS OFF MALTA (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Sept. 18. A New Zealander of distinction who has spent 18 months on Malta is Wing Commander J. R. Bloxam, D.F.C., of Featherston. He went out in March, 1941, as a flight lieutenant, and returned to England last week. He flew an American Maryland fighter reconnaissance machine for a year. One of his jobs was to locate Italian convoys and then advised the Royal Navy or bombers and torpedo-bombers. “We used to get chased a bit, but we had a good, fast craft and a good rear-gunner, so we were not unduly worried,” he said. "We flew over Tripoli, Naples, Greece, and Sardinia. Once we bombed a 15,000-ton Italian troopship and left it on fire. “Our most interesting job was finding convoys. We reported an Italian convoy in June, 1941, after which a force led by Lord Louis Mountbatten completely wiped it out. We subsequently reported two destroyers and four merchantmen lying beached. We also spotted for the naval guns in the Battle of Matapan. Later, we once or twice saw the entire Italian fleet. “The bombing of Malta, was certainly trying. I went out when Air ViceMarshal H. P. Lloyd was in command, and stayed for some time after Air ViceMarshal K. R. Park, formerly of Dunedin, took over. They are both terrific workers and inspiring leaders. No matter what time of the day or night you were about the aerodrome, you always seemed to run into Air Vice-Marshal Park. Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd was the same. Goodness knows when they slept.”