N.Z. AIRMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1942, Page 3

N.Z. AIRMEN

TORPEDO BOMBER SQUADRONS

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

LONDON, August 14.

The New Zealand Torpedo Bomber Squadron is credited with having probably torpedoed a merchantman off the Norwegian coast, and also with probably shooting down a Nazi fighter. These are their first victories. The flight concerned included Flying Officer J. J. Richardson, Pilot Officers J. H. Reason, T. D. G. Murray and S. Latta, all of Auckland, and Flying Officer A. J. Mottram, who is an Englishman. They were sent out to search for a Koln class cruiser. They ran into a thick cloud- 1 bank. They could see nothing. Then Mottram found a gap in the clouds, and went down, and found a three thousand-ton merchantmen at anchor. He dropped a torpedo. He last saw it travelling towards the ship. Then the plane was attacked by an enemy fighter. The gunners replied at point-blank range, until both planes were covered in cloud. Mottram’s gunners were New Zealanders, but their names at present are not available. Mottram is a star tennis player, and played on Wimbledon centre court before the war. The New Zealand airman, J. R. C. Killian, of Christchurch, has been promoted to squadron leader. He is now commanding officer of a Spitfire 'squadron. He previously was with a New Zealand Spitfire unit.

MR. NASH’S INTEREST.

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

LONDON, August 14. Indications are that Mr. Nash’s visit to London is drawing to a close. He has been very busy for a week finalising business on which he hopes for a decision before returning to Washington. There is no doubt that the visit has been very useful to New Zealand. Mr. . Nash has not spared himself, working usually until after midnight. One of his last engagements before leaving will probably be to visit the famous group of the Fighter Command, where he will meet prominent New Zealand airmen. Mr. Nash is greatly interested in the work of the R.N.Z.A.F. in Britain. One of the highlights of his visit was last week’.s flying tour of stations, which obviously impressed itself on his mind. One of his subsequent comments was: “There is no finer inspiration than to have had the privilege of hearing the cream of the country’s youth being briefed for a raid and being told what they Were expected to do.” MR. LANGSTONE. ONTARIO, August 14. The New Zealand High Commissioner, in Canada, Mr. Langstone, presided at the ceremonies of the Number Four Air Observers’ School, near Crumlin, at which the first New Zealanders were graduated as navigators under the Commonwealth training plan. The graduates included Sergeant Pilot Harry Blinkthorn, who received his wings in New Zealand, but when posted as an instructor, he declined, and remustered as a member of an aircrew for active service. In his address, Mr. Langstone urged the navigators to make good use of their knowledge in battle.