DESERT AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24028, 17 August 1943, Page 4

DESERT AIR FORCE

FIGHTER SQUADRON IN SICILY NEW ZEALAND OFFICER IN COMMAND (Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, August 15. “Cobber” Kain’s old Hurricane squadron, now fighting with the Desert Air Force in Sicily, has as its commanding officer Squadron Leader E. L. “Nipper” Joyce, D.F.M., of Hamilton, one of New Zealand’s most successful night tighter pilots. A year ago Squadron Leader Joyce, then a warrant officer, flying a fourcannon Hurricane in the same squadron, shot down three Junkers 88 bombers in five nights. This amazingly keen eyesight then made him by far the most successful Hurricane pilot operating during the moon periods behind the Alamein line. Shortly after his promotion to pilot officer. Squadron Leader Joyce completed his tour of operations, and became an instructor. While he was on operational training courses in Libya and Egypt his squadron, then commanded in Tunisia by an English squadron leader who had fought with “Cobber” Kain in France, brought its total number of enemy aircraft destroyed in this war to mo’re than 300. Last month Squadron Leader Joyce, who had become an acting-flight lieutenant commanding a flight on operational training, was chosen to command his old squadron in Sicily. Ever since “Cobber” Kain became its top-scoring pilot in 1940. New Zealand has been well represented in this squadron. At one stage during the Alamein battle it contained six New Zealand pilots. Another New Zealander who commanded the squadron was Squadron Leader Derek Ward, D.F.C. and Bar. of North Auckland, one of the first desert pilots to attempt night fighter operations.