FIGHTER RAID ON GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 6

FIGHTER RAID ON GERMANY

ACCOUNT BY TIMARU OFFICER (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Hec. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 21. Two New Zealanders—Flying Officer W. Hawkins, Wellington, and Pilot Officer O. R. Chapman, Timaru, recently took part in the first flight over the German frontier made by fighters. They flew Mustangs within a few miles of Bremen, shooting up an enemy camp, a factory, a gasometer, and barges on the Dortmund Emms canal. The whole flight covered a journey of over 700 miles. Piot Officer Chapman said: “We flew over the North Sea almost at sea level to the Frisian Islands and then turned south over Holland and strafed a railway line from less than tree-top height before crossing the German border. We attacked a German hut encampment just over the German border, firing explosive and incendiary bullets. We left the buildings burning. . “We then flew on until we picked up the Dortmund Emms canal. At Lathen we attacked a factory and gasometer. At Happen we set on fire a small ship in the lock gates and also several barges. “We returned by the Zuyder Zee, where we shot up shipping. We did not see a German fighter on the whole trip, the only opposition being a little flak. We were a bit stiff when we returned from being cramped in the cockpit for so long, but it was a grand trip.” Mustangs serve with the Army Cooperations Command. They have recently been over Holland and have shot up more than 20 locomotives,