N.Z. AIRMEN

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1943, Page 3

N.Z. AIRMEN

ACTION OVER EUROPE (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) LONDON, May 15. Squadron-Leader Alan Deeie, D.F.C. and Bar, of Wanganui, leading his wing to-day saw his close friend 24-year-old Squadron-Leader Jack Charles, D.F.C., of Saskatchewan, shoot down two Fockewulfs. At the same time the commanding officer of a Fighting French squadron, flying in the same wing under Deere also shot down another Fockewulf. These three victories brought up the station’s score to one thousand Germans shot down throughout the war —the wing having in a. day previously shot down three. It was a day of subdued excitement for the station, which finally gave way to celebration.

There was much banter among the pilots before they took off, and Charles took round throughout the day with him in his car a brindle Boston terrier called “Killer Digger.” Tne previous day the dog had attended a “briefing” and tne squadron regarded his presence as lucky, since three Germans were collected. Charles patted the dog before he took off, and in some respects he was lucky—but it was luck combined with skill. Spitfires were escorting the Mitchell bombers which were bombing the Caen aerodrome. When returning from the target Deere sighted aircraft but was not sure of their identity. He told Charles to “investigate” with his section of three, which included Flight Lieutenant John Checketts, of Invercargill, who was flying number three to Charles. The aircraft were two Fockewulfs. Apparently they sighted Checketts, but not Charles. They prepared to attack Checketts, while Charles arrived behind them. They were in line astern so he fired at the first. It blew up and the pilot baled out. He continued chasing the second, which blew up in flames. Almost at the same time a Fighting French commander shot down a Fockewulf in flames. It was still undecided who actually shot down the thousandth, .and it is probable they will toss up for it and share the sweepstake money of about £5OO between them. Air Vice-Marshal Leigh Malory, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Fighter Command, later congratulated Deere and conveyed his congratulations to the wing.

N.Z. NAVAL OFFICERS IN DUTCH COAST ACTION.

LONDON, May 15. New Zealanders, Lieutenant G. R. Natusch, aged 22, and Sub-Lieutenant George MacDonald, both of the R’.N.Z.N.V.R., participated in the light naval forces action off the coast of Holland in which two new type of enemy torpedo-boats were sunk. Lieutenant Peter Dickens, commanding, said that Natusch went below before the attack with two others and kept the engines running when leakage of exhaust fumes overcame members of the engine room staff. “Between them they pulled off a grand job of work,” he said.