COMPLETE DESTRUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 25440, 22 March 1945, Page 4

COMPLETE DESTRUCTION

GERMAN CITIES WIPED OUT N.Z. AIRMEN'S EXPERIENCES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 22. So stupendous was the damage inflicted on enemy territory by the R.A.F. Bomber Command that he did not think even the British public realised the extent of it, said Squadronleader W. J. 11. Scollay, D.F.C., of Wellington, a recently-returned airman. He gave as an example the twin cities of Barmen and Eberfeld, which formed the city of Wuppertal, which were completely destroyed' in one attack. The result was comparable to the destruction of Wellington. The main attack on such places was by incendiaries, the Germans having taught the British a lesson in the Battle of Britain that incendiaries did more damage than high explosive. Squadron-leader Scollay, who was a former member of the No. 75 (New Zealand) Bomber Squadron, said the squadron was considered to be in the top flight of Bomber Command, and the New Zealanders in the squadron now numbered about 50 per cent. BRILLIANT OTAGO PILOT. An original member of No. 75 Squadron, which was formed shortly after the outbreak of the war from 30 Wellington bombers then due to be flown to the Dominion, is Squadron-leader F. J. Lucas, D.F.C. and bar, of Balclutha, who also recently returned from overseas after more than five years' active service. By November 16, 1940, he had completed 37 raids, and by 1943 his total was 53 reconnaissance and major bombing attacks.. For a time he was flight commander of the New Zealand Mosquito Squadron. Squadron-leader Lucas < did outstanding work in photographing heavily-defended targets, and his courage and perseverance in this dangerous type of operation was described in the citation to the bar of his D.F.C. as most marlked. He was back in New Zealand in 1943 after two complete operational tours with the R.A.F. to lead successfully a special mission in pioneering R.N.Z.A.F. transport routes in the South-west Pacific. He then returned to England to do a third tour of operations with the R.A.F. Occupying with five others eleventh equal place in the list of New Zealanders who have v shot down five or more enemy aircraft," Squadron-leader D. W T . Westenra, D.F.C. and bar, of Dunsandel, is another of the long-service airmen who recently returned to the Dominion. His score is 11. He served in Greece and Crete in Gladiators (the last biplane fighters in the Royal Air Force), flew Tomahawks in Libya, Kittyhawks (on test) in Egypt, Spitfires from El Agheila and Sicily, and Mustangs in the European theatre. In the Western Desert campaign Squad-ron-leader Westenra led a squadton with " conspicuous ability."