N.Z. FIGHTER ACES

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24445, 20 December 1944, Page 3

N.Z. FIGHTER ACES

LATEST UNOFFICIAL; LIST GROUP CAPTAIN GRAY IN LEAD New Zealand’s 48 leading fighter aces serving in the Royal Air Force and Royal New • Zealand Air Force have -to date, shot .down. 4791- enemy aircraft.. A. list of these pilots, with their individual totals of enemy aircraft. has been compiled by Mr. H. G. Hay of Christchurch, .from, a wide variety of sources, including official records published in newspapers, aviation journals, and books. The Ifst is as up-to-date as possible, and a check made from unofficial sources by the Air Department indicates that the figures are accurate. Mr Hay lists the pilots and their totals as follows: Groun Captain C. F. Gray. D.5.0., D.F.C., and 2 Bars. R.A.F. .. 27J Flying Officer E. J. Kain, D.F.C.,, R.A.F (killed in aircraft accldent) ... 25 Wing Commander A. C. Deere, D.5.0., D.F.C., and Bar, U.S. DJT.C., Croix de Guerre, R.A.F. .. 211 Wing Commander W. V. C. Compton, D.5.0.. D.F.C. and Bar, U.S. Silver Star, R.A.F. .. • • 201 Flight Lieutenant R. B. Hesselyn, D.F.C.. O.F.M. and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. (prisoner of war) .. • • 191 Squadron Leader E. D. Mackle, D.F.C., and Bar, R.N.ZA.F. • • .16 Squadron Leader J. A. Gibson, D.F.C., R.A.F. ... •• •• Mi Squadron Leader W. G. Clouston, D.F.C., RA.F. (prisoner of war) 12 Flight Lieutenant B. J. G. Carbury, D.F.C. and Bar. R.A.F. (discharged from R.A.F: .. •• •• ;12 Wing Commander J. M. Checketts, D.5.0., D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. .. 11l Wine Commander E. P. Wells, D.5.0., D.F.C and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. .. 11 Flight Lieutenant G. E.- Jameson, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. .. •• H Flight Lieutenant G. Stenborg, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. (killed in action) ..11 Flying Officer G. B. Fiskin. D.F.C., . R.N.Z.A.F. .. • • ..11 Flying Officer J. D. Rae. D.F.C. and Bar. R.N.Z.A.F. (prisoner of war) 11 Squadron Leader M. J. Herrick, D.F.C.'’ and Bar. R.A.F. (missing, believed killed) .. l°i Group Captain P. G. Jameson. D.5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, Norwegian Star, R.A.F. .. .... 10 Group Captain E. W. Whitley, D.5.0., D.F.C., R.A.F. • • 10 Wing Commander M. V. Blake, D.5.0., D.F.C., R.A.F. (prisoner of war) 10 Pilot Officer H. W. Hodgson, D.F.C., R.A.F. (killed In action) , .. 10 Squadron Leader G. K. Gilroy, D.5.0., D.F.C., and Bar, R.A.F. .. » Squadron Leader J. N. Mackenzie, D.F.C., RA.F. ~ •• 9 Squadron Leader, J. C. F. Hayter, D.F.C., R.A.F. .. -. 9 Squadron Leader E. L. Joyce, D.F.M., R.N.Z.A.F. (missing) .. 9 Squadron Leader D. F. Westenra, D.F.C., R.A.F. .. ..9 Squadron Leader M. R. B. Ingram, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. (died of Injuries) .. .. • •• 9 Group Captain D. J. Scott, D.5.0., 0.8. E., D.F.C. and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. 8 Wing Commander R. J. C. Grant, D.F.C. and Bar. D.F.M.. R.N.Z.A.P. (killed in action) 8 Wing Commander R. M. Trousdale, D.F.C. and Bar. R.A.F. .. 8 Squadron Leader It. H. Hammond, D.5.0., D.F.C., and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. 8 Flight Lieutenant P. F. L. Hall, D.F.C., and Bar, R.N.Z.A.F. .. 8 Flight Lieutenant R. I* Spurdle, D.F.C., R.A.F. .. .. 8 Wing Commander R. O. Yule, D.5.0., • D.F.C., and Bar, R.A.F. .. 7 Flight Lieutenant B. G. Collyns, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. (missing) .. 7 Air Commodore H. D. McGregor, D.5.0., U.S. Legion of Merit, R.A.F. • 6 Wing Commander I. S. Smith, D.F.C., and Bar, R.A.F. .. .. 6 Squadron Leader D. H. Ward, D.F.C., and Bar, R.A.F. (killed in action) 8 Squadron Leader P. W. Rabone, , D.F.C., R.A.F. (missing) ... 8 Flight Lieutenant K. W. Tait, D.F.C., R.A.F. (killed in action) .. 8 Flight Lieutenant O; V. Tracey, D.F.C., R.A.F. (killed in action) ;. : 8 Flight ’ Lieutenant A.' E. Browne, R.N.Z.A.F. ... ... 6 Flying Officer H. W. Chambers, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. ... 6 Squadron Leader P. G. H. Newton, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. .. 5 Flight Lieutenant H. L. North. D.F.C., R.A.F. (killed in action) .. 5Flight Lieutenant A. M. Peart. D.F.C.,

R N Z A P •• Flight Lieutenant D. F. Livingstone,

D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F. Flying Officer S. F. Browne. D.F.C.,

RNZAF •• ~ ... Flying. Officer J. • Houlton, D.F.C., ■R.N.Z.AJ 1