N.Z. TEMPESTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21580, 6 December 1944, Page 4

N.Z. TEMPESTS

OFFENSIVE SWEEPS BASES IN HOLLAND PATROLLING OVER ARMY (Special Correspondent.) (10 a.m.) LONDON. Dec. 5. Operating from bases in Holland, the New Zealand Tempest Squadron is patrolling over the British Army and carrying out offensive sweeps deep into German territory. It is based on an airfield commanded by Group-Captain P. G. Jameson. Lower Hull. Two of the other Tempest suuadi’ons on the spine airfield are also commanded by New Zealanders, Squadron-Leaders IT. N. Sweetman. D.F.0.. and It. L. Spurdle. D.F.C. The New Zealand squadron, whL-h did so well in the battle of the flying bomb:; when it showdown 241 of these V-l’s, has shot down three more enemy aircraft, making its score 24. Tt. also probably destroyed a twin-

engined jet-aircraft, a Messcrschmi; • 262. and damaged two others. The first, victory was gained by Flight Lieutenant S. S. Williams, of Hamilton, when the squadron was protecting the Arnhc-m bridge against dive-bombing attempts. He destroyed a Messorschmitt 109.

Shortly afterwards the squadron sighted three Junkers 38 while on o sweep over the Munster area. Flicht Lieutenant Williams shared the destruction of one with Plight Lieutenant K. G. Taylor-Cannon. of Alexandra. while Pilot-Officer J. Steedman. of Whangarei. destroyed another. Killed a Jet-Propelled Fighter

During one patrol Flying Officer R J Danzey, of Auckland, sighted five twin-engined jet-aircraft. He fired r Short burst at the leading aircraft from about 450 yards, but had hot time to see the results, because he observed another jet-aircraft attacking his section. He fired three bursts at extreme range. Members of an ack-ack regiment reported seeine debris fly off the first aircraft and Flying Officer Danzey was officially awarded a “kill.’’ Pilot Officer O. D. Eagleson, D.F.C, on another occasion sighted a jetaircraft on an airfield. They flew away in order to put the Germans off their guard and then returned about 10 minutes later, when two of these aircraft were taxi-ing out ready to take off. Diving and attacking at high speed. Flight Lieutenant TaylorCannon probably destroyed one of the aircraft, while Pilot Officer Eagleson damaged the other. This Tempest squadron wa? visited by Mr. IV J. Jordan and Air Commodore F. G. Olson, D. 3.0., recently the other squadrons visited being a Spitfire squadron which is operating from Belgium, and a Mosquito squadron. Mr. Jordan and Air Commodore Olson flew to Holland from England in a Dakota aircraft escorted by fighters. No enemy aircraft was sighted. This airfield from which the Tempests are operating was littered with bomb craters, both the British and the Germans having attacked it. There was a decided winter nin in Pv •air, and bad weather often kept the aircraft on the ground. “I have often complained of the English weather, but 1 shall never complain of it again after what we have had here in Holland,” said one New Zealander. “Nobody is nov living under canvas. We are living in huts.”