N.Z. KITTYHAWK SQUADRON

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23756, 30 September 1942, Page 2

N.Z. KITTYHAWK SQUADRON

* Operations in Dominion

FULLY READY FOR ACTION (P.S.S.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 29. New Zealanders used to seeing Kittyhawk fighter aircraft roaring across the sky in almost any weather can be assured that the men who fly them are in a state of complete operational readiness. Although the Air Force wisely emphasises that there can be no end to practice, a visit recently paid to a fighter squadron showed that the pilots had long since completed the training which fitted them to fight in air combat. This is the first fighter squadron formed in New Zealand with completely New Zealand flying personnel. Some of the ground staff are British ranks who came to the Dominion after the evacuation of Singapore, but all the pilots are New Zealanders. Two flight commanders both won the Distinguished Flying Cross for services in the Battle of Britain. They are Flight Lieutenant J. A. Gibson and Flight Lieutenant M. J. Herrick. Both went to Britain before the outbreak of the war with short-service commissions, and are officers of the Royal Air Force. Flight Lieutenant Gibson flew in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. He was mainly in Spitfires. He bailed out three times, and is credited with 13i enemy machines. Flight Lieutenant Herrick flew in the Battle of Britain, and as a member of a Beaufighter night squadron, was credited with seven enemy aircraft, extremely good scoring for night actions. They are turn of a number of young New Zealanders who have been brought back to the Dominion after long operational experience overseas, and are now members of the defence forces of this country. Many of the others also wear ribbons marking distinguished service.

Far less exciting than that of the pilots, the task of the ground staff carries with it a degree of responsibility that demands complete efficiency. Upon their ability depend the lives of the airmen and the safety of the machines. It says much for their training and their own personal adaptability that they have mastered the special requirements and intricacies of the Kittyhawks so rapidly. One of the Royal Air Force men wears the ribbon of the Military Medal. He is Aircraftsman, First-class, G. A. Coltrill, who, as a member of a ship’s guncrew during the evacuation of Singapore, manned his weapon for four hours during constant dive-bombing and high-level attacks on his transport. During these attacks one enemy aircraft was shot down. A Practice Alarm

The squadron’s state of operational readiness was tested during a reporter’s visit. While members of the squadron were lined up in front of their Kittyhawks to have a photograph taken, there was a sudden practice "flap,” or alarm, which demanded an immediate response. On this occasion some of the machines were already in perfect mechanical order, fuelled, and completely ammunitioned. They were wheeled quickly out of line on to the tarmac. The duty pilots, still adjusting their flying kit, came rapidiy out of the pilots’ room, climbed in, switched on their engines, warmed up. ran rather- bumpily across the grass of the flying field, turned down into the huge concrete runway, gathered speed, and were away. The squadron leader led the first Kittyhawks on patrol.* He had been struggling into his kit even while listening to a telephone report of the "flap.” When it is not on patrol, the squadron spends much of its time carrying out various practices. Some of these are in co-operation with the Army, and officers of the latter service are quick in these days to pay tribute to the manner in which the- Air Force assists it in giving needed realism to training exercises. The squadron appears to be keen, efficient, very well trained, and satisfied that its machines will enable it to do its job well in combat.