WITH PACIFIC FLEET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 91, 18 April 1945, Page 5

WITH PACIFIC FLEET

NEW ZEALAND PILOTS

Rec. 9 a.m. • SYDNEY, April 17. The arrival -of the Royal Navy in force in the Pacific has meant the establishment of a number of Australian shore bases, including what will be the largest "naval hospital in the world. The British Fleet has taken over a large aerodrome on the east coast of Australia for use by carrier-based planes.

The senior pilot of one of the squadrons which has been using the aerodrome is Lieutenant Hugh Lang, R.N.V.R., of Palmerston North, and another New Zealand pilot in the same squadron is Lieutenant G. W. Bowles, R.N.V.R., Auckland.

Lieutenant Lang was with this squadron flying Seafires from an airfield m southern England in support of the Normandy landings." While spotting for naval bombardments he was shot down by two Focke-Wulf 190's and landed near Orne, in enemy-held territory. He linked up with Allied paratroops and reached England a few days later, having suffered no worse injury than a gashed face. As a party of correspondents was visiting this station, Lieutenant Bowles s plane landed and tipped on its nose in avoiding a moving lorry. Lieutenant Bowles, a youthful but bearded veteran, was unhurt. His last mishap was while on Russian convoy duty when his plane dived into the sea after the engine failed during a take-oft. In spite of U-boat packs, and contrary to the usual procedure, the earner circled and Lieutenant Bowles was picked up. ■ His squadron is now training in Hellcats, which have a longer range than the planes previously used and are therefore more suitable for Pacific warfare.

Many of the other pilots from the Royal Navy carrier squadrons are New Zealanders. The majority are having home leave before joining up with the fleet again.