NEW FIGHTER SQUADRON

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24446, 21 December 1944, Page 4

NEW FIGHTER SQUADRON

ARRIVAL AT PACIFIC BASE CHRISTCHURCH MAN IN COMMAND (R.N.Z.A.F, Official News Service) SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC, Dec 18. Allied air strength at a south-west Pacific base has been increased by the arrival from New Zealand of a new fighter squadron equipped with LorR.N.Z.A.F. now operates in this area with both bomber and fighter squadrons under its command, and tne scope of its operations has been extended accordingly. , , _ In addition, the New Zealand Corsairs will give an added punch to the hammer blows with which the Ames are striking at the enemy in this area. Every day, United States and New Zealand aircraft are out over Japanese positions in New Britain and New Ireland, harassing the enemy garrisons and preventing oy accurate bombing and strafing further consolidation of •their positions. In the Northern Solomons, the aircraft of the Allied commands are waging the same sort of war against the enemy strongholds on Bougainville and New Britain. In these raids, the new arrivals, some of whom are making their first contact with the enemy, may well be expected to give a good account of themselves. Since the Corsair pilots left New Zealand a month ago, they have been doing a little final training at Guadalcanal Now they are ready and eager for action. They have been assigned a number of tasks, including sweeps on Japanese targets in New Ireland, with particular attention to Kavieng at the northern tip of the island. Youthful Members of Crews

The commanding officer of the fighter squadron is Squadron Leader J. R. C. Kilian, of' Christchurch, whose flying experience goes back to 1934. Awarded the Croix de Guerre after distinguished service in Europe, he served with both the R.A.F. and the R.N.Z.A.F. In the European theatre, he flew with a Spitfire squadron, and is credited with the destruction of at least five German planes. His two flight commanders, Flight Lieutenant J. L. Scott, of Te Aroha, and Flight Lieutenant J. E. Sanders, of Oamaru, are both veterans of the Pacific war, having completed several tours. / Of all the R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons which have seen service in the southwest Pacific, this is probably the youngest. Many of the pilots-are very youthful. This, doubtless, is one reason for their keenness. Three are aged 19, seven are only 20, and the ages of the others range from 21 to 23. Flight Lieutenant Scott is 22, which must make him one of the youngest flight commanders in the R.N.Z.A.F. These are among the men who have been given the task of driving the Japanese from their jungle hideouts. Although the Allies hold the upper hand in this part of the south-west Pacific, the enemy clings tenaciously with his fingertips to portions of the territory which we occupy. It is the Allies’ job to prise loose this hold and force the enemy into submission.