FIGHTER RECORD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21605, 6 January 1945, Page 4

FIGHTER RECORD

AUCKLAND PILOT WING-COM. COMPTON ADVENTUROUS CAREER (By Tetejeaph—-Pros? Assn. —Copyright.! (Special Correspondent.) (!) a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 5 A record for the Fighter Command has been established by the Aucklander, Wing Commander W. V. C. Compton. D. 5.0.. D.F.C. and bai. American Silver Star. He lias Hown Spitfires on operations for '’>(111 hoius. all but three minutes —more Ilian any other fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force. Wing Commander Complon. who has had' an outstanding career, and is one of Now Zealand s leading lighter pilots, has now returned to England from Belgium for a rest period. Ho luts been wing cominandei (Hying) with a mobile wing ol Fighting French squadrons ever since last April. During that period be- led his wing on the pro-invasion operation:-, healing up enemy radar positions and

bombing flying-bomb sites, then on protective sweeps over the invasion licet, fighting over the Normandy beach-head, taking part in the .slaughter at the Falaise Gap. and advancing all the way through France and Belgium. „ . , . With 211 German aircraft to ins credit Wing Commander Compton ranks'second with Wing Commander Alan Deere in the list of New Zealand's fighter pilots. First position is still being held by Wing Commander Colin Grey, of Gisborne, who has 21-,. Shipwrecked in Pacific Wing Commander Compton loft New Zealand in 1931! ns a member of the crew of the auxiliary ketch "Land's End.” with the intention of sailing io England to join the Royal Air Force. After several adventures the ketch broke up on a reef near Roussel Island, where the crew lived with headhunters for some weeks. Eventually they reached Samari, m New Guinea, where Wing Commander Compton became a carpenter on a tramp steamer, being officially paid one shilling monthly. He arrived in Liverpool late on the evening ol September 5, 1939, and next afternoon enlisted with the Royal Air Force in London as an A.C. 2. He missed the Battle of Britain, due to the necessity of waiting a long period for training, but joined the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron as a sergeant early in 1941. His rise was rapid, and two years later lie was a wing commander, leading squadrons, including New Zealand Soil fires. lie won Iris decorations ior his fine fighting ability and leadership. while the Americans awarded him their Silver Star for Iris work in leading fighter escorts for over 2(H) raids bv Living Fortresses, on one of which Tie shot down two enemy fighters. Notable Line of Commanders For three months at the c-nd of 1943 he toured the United States lecturing, and on returning to England joined the Fighting French wing, which was commanded first by Wing Commander Deere and then by Group Captain A. G. Malan, the famous South African. Wing Commander Compton had many escapes, the luckiest of which was perhaps las! week, when the Germans shot up hi:? airfield in Belgium. lie was driving around the airfield when he saw two aircrali Hying very low. Suddenly lie sav. them both winking red lights. Hr immediately realised they were Germans and leapt from his car into a gul ior, where lie lay fiat while cannon shells struck the road 12 yards from him. ' , ,

Wing Commander Compton would like to visit New Zealand, but since he is a member of the Royal Air Force and not. tiie R.N.Z.A.F., there is apparently little official interest. in his desire fit proseni, but he is hoping he will be able to make the trip. He has certainly earned a rest.