N.Z. PILOTS IN NEW INVASION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 277, 19 August 1944, Page 8

N.Z. PILOTS IN NEW INVASION

Also Aiding Marshal Tito

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) (Special Correspondent.) (Received August IS. 7 p.m.) LONDON, August It.. Now Zealand Spitfire pilots based iu Corsica are taking part in .the assault on southern France aud helping to provide the fighter escort to t.he Allied Air lorce. They include: Flight Lieutenant D. b. Livingstone. Taurangn, who won. Hie D FC. for bis work in operations over Cassino and Rome: Flying Officers CJohnson. Dunedin. T. H. Cockertll and B M. Bovle. Wellington, and Pilot Officers E. s: Docherly. D.F.M.. and H. H. Moore and Warrant Oflicer J. 1. AsNo ll ’de’t 1 a S lls I 'are available in London of their present activities. It. is known, however, that prior to the invasion Docheity ami ’Moore were engaged escorting American bombers Hying over Hie Alps l) targets In Austria, and Doeherty shot doi'n two Messerschmitt 109's while operating from Corsica. . Good work had been done in Cars «.i bv three New Zealand radar meeiianics w'lm went to tlie island when it was irst nceutiied last. January. They are I-li„lit Sergeant S. -4. Salt, Christchurch, who was mentioned in dispatches Leading Alreryft--men C. R- Dahlberg. Wellington, and J. F. Allen. Te Puke. . The R A.F. in Corsica arc in nig in tents nnilcr forward conditions with no supplementary rations. It i« a comfortless 1. '. but tiieir morale is very high and the NZeaJnmlcrs sav the scenery compares t.t'ourabi.v with that of their own country. Helping Tito. Several New Zealanders are engaged flying Dakota transport aircraft am' l ’-? Marshal Tito's forces. Thoy include Flight Lieutenants S. G. (.ulliford. X°rsewood -4. Norman. Southland. J. k. Cooke, \ui-kland, and Flying Officer G. Askew, Gisborne. Flight. Lieutenant C. Bibbs, laumarunui. won the D.F.C. while on this work liefore lie was transferred to. Sardinia. where lie is now also engaged in the present invasion operations. . Several New Zealanders were in Wellington and Halifax squadrons which were bombing targets In Austria and Rumania from Italy. Squadron Leader H. Beale, Gisborne, who carried out two tours and operated all Hie way from El Aiamein to italv. won the D.F.C. and Bar before be was made n prisoner of war. Wing Comnmiulor J. J. McKay_, I’.b.e.. and American P.F.C’., Nelson, is now with a squadron ou tlie cast coast of Italy. , ~ Tim work of New Zealand airmen in the Middle East, has been equally as ontstandinn as those in Britain, but apparently httlo'olllcial attempt has been made to gather reports of their work, nor to tell New Zealand of their exploits, which is certain Iy Now Zealand's Joss,