N.Z. SPITFIRE SQUADRON

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 4

N.Z. SPITFIRE SQUADRON

CHANGE IN COMMAND. SQUADRON LEADER GRANT’S RECORD. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 9.55.) LONDON, March 23. After leading the Spitfire Squadron since last May, Squadron Leader R. J C. Grant. D.F.C., D.F.M., of Auckland, handed over the command to R W. Baker, D.F.C., of Dunedin, who is promoted to Squadron Leader. Squadron Leader Grant carried out. 150 operations. He will now rest for a period. It is understood he Is going to Canada shortly. Squadron Leader Grant joined the New Zealand Squadron as a Flight Sergeant in October, 1941. He had already shot down three Germans and probably destroyed four more as well as damaging five. He leaves the squadron recognised as one of the outstanding fighter pilots New 1 Zealand has produced in this war. He was commissioned shortly after joining the squadron, became Flight Lieutenant last February, and took over the squadron from Wine Commander E. P. Wells, D. 5.0., D.F.S., and Bar, four months later. In seventeen months with the squadron. Squadron Leader Grant won the D.F.C., shot down a further five Germans, probably destroyed two others, and damaged one. He shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 when the “Gneisenau” and “Scharnhorst” made their Channel dash, and flew’ in four patrols during the Dieppe raid. It is likely that Squadron Leader Grant will be promoted to Wing Commander when he returns to operations and will probably lead a wing. Squadron Leader Baker is a popular 1 successor. He joined the squadron in July, 1941, from an operational training unit as a Pilot Officer and is now its senior member. He proved himself steady and reliable. He was also with the squadron in the Channel battle and took part in three sweeps during the Dieppe raid, probably destroying a Dornier 217. Squadron Leader Baker was promoted to Flight Lieutenant last May when Squadron Leader Grant first led the squadron and he received the D.F.C. at the same time as Squadron Leader Grant.

Before Squadron Leader Grant left the squadron the pilots entertained him to dinner and presented him with a silver tankard on which are inscribed the signatures of all those who flew with him in the squadron. Squadron Leader Baker paid him a warm tribute: “He is one of the finest types of leaders. The bovs follow , him anywhere, both in the ale and on the ground.”