AIRMEN IN SOLOMONS

Evening Star, Issue 24919, 17 July 1943, Page 5

AIRMEN IN SOLOMONS

NEW ZEALANQERS' FiNE RECORD SYDNEY, July 16. " Flying old Kittyhawlk fighters and Lockheed Hudson bombers, New Zealand airmen, including veterans of the Battle of Britain, the Middle East, and the Malayan fighting, are now doing a fine job in the Solomons," writes aa Australian war correspondent with the United/States fleet in the . Southern ■Pacific. The correspondent pays a high tribute to the first R.N.Z.A.F. fighter squadron at Henderson Field. Guadalcanal, The formation is led by one of - the Empire's youngest squadron leaders. M, Herrick, aged, 21, one of the R.A.F.'s first night fighter pilots. Squadron-leader Herrick is a' memr ber of a well-known Hawke's. Bay family. .He shot down five German bombers ever" London, two on his first night patrol. Two of his brothers .were killed while serving with the R.A.F., and two / more are serving in submarines. All five Herrick boys have been decorated for gallantry. Another New Zealand fighter squadron, which,shot down 11 Japanese airoraft in the big June battles, is led by 23-year-old Squadron-leader Stafilej Quill (Wellington). " Also flying old model aircraft,' bus doing wonders, is an R.N.Z.A.F. reconnaissance group which has _ been oii Guadalcanal since early this . year," l adds the correspondent. "On several ', occasions these men have located enemy warships and guided American air striking forces. The New Zealand* ers' patrols take them deep into enemy.* occupied territory. They have acquired! a considerable reputation amongAineriU cans because, although their Hudson* were not originally designed for, fight-* ing, iney act aa if they were flying Spitfires and go ouli looking- fo* trouble. "These New Zealanders like th<| rugged life on Guadalcanal, but thah* camp has been improved since Zealand construction unit moved in td mill timber from Guadalcanal's owd forests. Already more than 100 Amerfc can decorations and letters of comment elation havo been awarded men in tha New Zealand Air Force and Navy in the Solomons."