FIVE NAZIS SHOT DOWN

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

FIVE NAZIS SHOT DOWN

N.Z. TEMPEST SQUADRON ’DROME RAIDERS CAUGHT 10 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. o. The New Zealand Tempest squadron destroyed five Fockc-Wulf 190 s on January 1 when the Luftwailc made a surprise low-level attack on a number of Allied airfields in Holland and Belgium. Two were shot down by a new commanding otiicei. Squadron Leader A. E. Umbers, D.F.C. and bar, of Dunedin. One each was destroyed by Flying Officer E W Troth ol’ Dunedin, and Pilot Officers G. J. Hooper, of Wellington, and C. J. Shcddan, of Waimatc. Pilot Officer J. Stcedman, of Whangarei. probably destroyed another. The New Zealanders had taken oil early in the morning for a sweep over Germany. They had been flying on their course for about live minutes when they received a report by radio-telephone that a large number of German aircraft were approaching Helmond. Squadron Leader Umbers immediately led the squadron in that direction and soon sighted many FockeWulfs fiying at . tree-top height. Squadron Leader Umbers got on the tail of one enemy plane and blew it up and then shot down another after a fight. Flying Officer Trot! actually shot down a Fockc-Wulf after a running fight over the squadron's airfield. When it landed the squadron found the airfield unharmed, with only one aircraftman slightly wounded, being hit in the leg.