N.Z. PILOTS

Grey River Argus, 25 November 1942, Page 3

N.Z. PILOTS

NEWS FROM' BRITAIN. LONDON. Nov. 23. M. H. MacFarlane, D.F.C., has returned to Britain from Egypt. He is now instructing, having completed 63 raids, 29 with the Seventy-fifth Squadron. He flew to Malta last December, when a' formation of four Wellingtons was attacked by six Macchi fighters. R.A.F. planes shot down two Macchis, but MacFarlane’s wireless operator and front gunner .died of wounds at Malta, where tne plane crash’-landed. During January and February, MacFarlane, stationed south of Tobruk bombed the Germans round El Agheila then returned to Malta, where he took part in the most, successful raids against Palermo, when six out of eight of Rommel’s supply ships were sunk. Fuka was his next base, where MacFarlane met Paratrooper Lieutenant K. Hargreaves of Christchurch. Hargreaves made a flight with MacFarlane as passenger, on a raid against Martuba. During the July retreat MacFarlane once covered the New Zealand Div 1 -- s’on which lit up a' big arrow ol flares pointing the way to the German mechanised forces, upon whic.i MacFarlane dropped a bomb load. Ho returned to England via ' Africa, Brazil, America and Canada. Sergeant Navigator C. K. McLean of Auckland, was among the New Zealanders who took part in the ra/ds against Genoa. It was estimated thamany New Zealanders have been in these Italian raids, but it is difficult to secure names. Flying Officer Hector Arthur McKenzie, of Waipukurau was married to a member of the W.A.A.F. Sec tion Officer Ruth Cecil Bulk of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at Stevenage. Flying Officer L. James, of Whangarei was best man.