“GRAND BOYS”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20859, 11 August 1942, Page 5

“GRAND BOYS”

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN MR. NASH IMPRESSED VIStT TO SQUADRONS (By Telegraph—Press' Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) (9 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 7 The New Zealand Minister to-Wash-! ipgton, Mr. W. Nash, on a-visit to thq New Zealand fighter squadrons, met Flying-Officer S-. Haden, Wellington,! Pilot-Officer R'. Blyth, Wanganui, Ser-j geant L, J. Williams, Gisborne) Sergeant M. Lord, Oaptbridgie, Ser-j geant T. Sherborne, Gtore, Sergeant A, Scott, Mataura, Sergeant J. Richards, MethVen, and many others. Mr. Nash learned of toe highl dpinion held of Sergeant R. W. Raha-; rawhi, of Takaka, ' who took .part inj the big DusseldOrf raid for his first; operation. Before.. Mr-.. Nash- left the; groii'p captain ttolcl’ him; “I. would; rather,deal,.-with New- Zealanders thani anybody else.” Member’s ,of a. Hurricahe squadron! who -greeted Mr! Nash stood with him; admiring the members: o£ a Spitfire! squadron finishing formation flying; before' they, landed, Tlten they alii went m' to Kin'ch;! It, was a. pleasant,, informal gathering, after which' Mr. Nash chatted . with the pilots and.' ground crews, and. complimented! Flight-Lieutenant Harvey Sweetman, Auckland, qrt getting the first'Hun for the Hurricane squadron, and also; Pilot-Officer Lindsay Blabk-, Levin, who recently shot; down, a Dormer 217 for a Spitfire squadron. Mg. • Nash speht. & ; ifi'inujte's • seeing combat film si which were token' While fight ersc were - shooting, up enemy shipping, trains and .fflbtoSriOi- •. He t -saw Alins'. ! 'taKtori: bJC Flight-feiautenant J. Kjlian, Christchurch, 'Flight-Lieuten-ant M. jSKandT, Wellington, Bilot-Officer F,..Webb', 'LtoVin, PilOt-Officer E. D. Mackie, Auckland, and Sergeant H. R. Leckie, Wellington. Before leaving, Mr. Nash met PilotOfficer A. E. Umbers, Dunedin, who had been erroneously reported as having been killed. He was in the best of health^. Address by. Mr. Nash Arriving at a bomber squadron, Mr. Nash vVas greeted toy Group-Captain E. Olson, who had been recently promoted and was now. acting as station commander. GrouprCaptain Olson has bqen succeeded, by Wing-Comman-der V. Miteftell, U'F.C., a Scotsman, who had made one tour of, operations and who previously had many New Zealanders) Utodef . h'ls:,tot)irtintend. .Mr. Nash talke’d with Wing-Commander Mitchell and complimented Wing-CbiforrtStfde-r' Trevor Pnfe'itoan, Dunedin;, on his D. 5.0.. D.F.C. and h ar - He then m%t New Zealand personnel in-, the crew room, a (id addressed them very briefly and. then again chatted informally. Later he was .sh'own photographs taken 1 during raids- over Duisberg, JJambuite and Dusseldorf. some by Flying-Officer I. Sullivan, of Auckland, and Flying-Officer S. H. Gunning, Levin, and three excellent ones by Squadron-Leader A. Ashworth, D.F.G., Alexandra, who is now beginning his third t'ouf of operations. Squadron-Leader Ashworth had previously completed one totir with the NCW Zealand squadron, and a second in. tlie., Middle .East, and had piled up a total of 62 raids'. SquadronLeader' AShVtofto SquadronLeader R. Newton, Christchurch, as flight commander. Mr. Nash met Squadron-Leader F. Denton,, D.F.C.. jGrey’mouth, who also had completed an operations tour. Mr. Nash was greatly ’ interested to hear , that the squadron 'had been briefed for a raid against Duisberg that night. He hopes if time allows- to return to see them take off and return from- a raid. Group-Captain' Olson, commenting on the squadron’s great spirit, told Mr. Nash: “After a. peripd of heavy operations' toe boys were briefed for a ibid the' very next night, but the group captain suggested that if ! there Iwas any feeling, of strain Or tiredness [they liad no notod to' operate. No one [moved. Theymlb twkipart.in- the' raid 'and all returned safely. You cannot beat that spirit.” ' Mr. Nash- flew- back. _ia London Igreatly iippressed. .He tojd.me:. “All I Is’sJiTbhHid, j'ustirttoation, of the .p#d§ jyhich New Zealand [takes in her airmen. They are grand; Sboy.s.” r'e-u . ...