N.Z. PILOTS’ RECORDS

Grey River Argus, 28 June 1943, Page 3

N.Z. PILOTS’ RECORDS

Gray Leads Deere LATTER’S TRIBUTE TO AMERICANS. LONDON, June '24. • Wing Commander A. Deere, the New Zealander, is now the ninth highest scoring lighter pilot in the R.A.F. Squadron-Leader Colin Gray, with 221. is eighth. It is very interesting the way in which these top-scioring New Zealanders have kept pace with each other. Gray joined Deere’s flight in Fifty-four Squadron late in 1939. He did not shoot down any Germans during Dunkirk. In fact he nearly go shot down himself, returning with a hole in the fuselage a foot wide. During the battle of Britain, Gray started scoring slowly, but by September 15. 1940, he had shot down 161 Germans. He later commanded the Flight .and was in the first offensive sweeps in .1941, shooting down another German. He commanded the first squadron to bp equipped with the latest Spitfire Mark Nine. Later he went t° North Africa. The following is a fuller list of top scoring New Zealand fighters:—Gray 22?., Deere, 211; Squadron-Leader J. A. Gibson, D.F.C. of Auckland, 13, Pilot Officer R. B. Hesselyn, D.F.M., and Bar, of Invercargill, 121, Squ-adron-Leader W. G. Clouston, Wel- , lington, 12, Squadron-Leader W. V. C. Compton of Auckland, 111, Pilot Officer W. H. Hodgson, D.F.C., Dunedin and E. P. Wells, 11, Wing Commander M. V. Blake, D. 5.0., D.F.C., Christchurch, and Pilot Officer Gray Stenberg of Auckland, 10, Jameson and Squadron-Leader J l . N. MacKenzie, D.F.C., of Clydevale 9, Wing Commander R. M. Trousdale, D.F.C., and Bar, Auckland, and Squadron Leader R-. J. C. Grant, D.F.C. and Bar, D.F.M., 8. An English Wing Commander, D. 5.0., D.F.C., and Bar, who fought in France with a squadron adjacent to Cobber Kain’s re* cently stated he believed that Kain’s score was 12,’ which was confirmed. Squadron Leader W. V. C. Compton, of Auckland, who last week returned to operations as SquadronLeader supernumerary, has led the wing for the first time. He accompanied the Flying Fortresses to Huis. He said: “We saw 30 to 40 Focke Wulf 190’s, which were preparing to attack the Fortresses from the portside. Our wing turned . into them and" they dived away. Every time we tried to attack, the F.W’s weren’t having any, and ‘we were able to bring back the Fortresses unmolested.” ' f “I have never- got a Hun before without having to fire- at him,” said Deere, commenting on the latest addition to his score. Some idea of the vastness, of the U.S.A.A.F’s. attack against Huis was given by Deere, who said: “Our wing was part" of hundreds of Spitfires escorting, a. large formation of Fortresses which flew in formation twenty miles inland. They took fitteen mintues to cross one point. It was an amazing sight, and when it is realised that the Fortresses carry at least ten of a crew, it was a small army in the air. That formation was three times the size of the largest bomber formation ever sent by the Luftwaffe over -England during the battle of Britain. I have great respect for the Americans which is growing daily. Their bombing is excellent and they are fine pilots.”

AWARDS FOR N.Z. AIRMEN

EIGHT AIR CREW N.C.O.’s HONOURED. Proof of the part members of the RNZ.A.F. overseas are taking in the ‘‘Battle of Ruhr” is given in the latest awards of the Distinguished Flvin 0, Medal to each of eight New Zealand air. crew n.c.o.’s serving m the United Kingdom. Five of the recipients have now been commissioned. They are Pilot Officer (for-

merly sergeant) Allisdair Archibald Matheson, Masterton; Pilot Officer (formerly sergeant) Jack Brokenshire Price, Auckland; Pilot Officer (formerly sergeant) John Robert Rodgers, Timaru; Pilot Officer (formerly flight sergeant) Russell James Noonan, Christchurch; Pilot Officer (formerly sergeant) Murray David Muggeridge, Manutahi; Flight Serregant Ralph Crossgrove. Auckland; Flight Sergeant J'ohn Colbert, Te Puia Springs; Flight. Sergeant James Lionel Williams, Gisborne.

The citations state: — Matheson completed many sorties and is a highly skilled navigator. On an operational flight to Germany last December he was successful in guiding a bomber safely to its target and back, after the wireless had failed. He was born at Carterton in 1915, educated at Wairarapa College, and entered the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1941.

Price, says the citation, participated in operational sorties on, the Ruhr Berlin, Hamburg and Milan. Beside being an able bomb-aimer, he is a navigator of outstanding ability, a fact which has been instrumental in assisting the captain to find the target on many occasions. Price w.as born at Auckland in 1914, educated at Mount Albert Grammar School, and entered the Air Force in June, 1941. Rodgers, says the citation, proved a determined and skilful pilot in a large number of operational missions, many of them against heavily defended targets, including Berlin, Turin, Essen and Cologne. Rodgers was born at Timaru in 1917, and educated at Timaru Boys’ Fligh School. Noonan has completed numerous operational missions, many calling for the utmost skill and coolness, says the citation. The targets included Frankfurt, Bremen, Cologne and Turin. He was born at Kaiapoi in 1922, educated at 'Christchurch Boys’ High School, and commenced his Air Force training in 1941. ■ Muggeridge, the citation says, has exhibited the highest degree of determination and. courage throughout. his operational career, and has participated in a very large number of attacks in heavily defended targets. He was born at Manutahi in 1922, and educated at Hawera Technical High School. The citation says that many operational sorties have been completed by Crossgrove, whose targets included well-defended centres in the Ruhr, Hamburg, and Berlin. He was born at Christchurch in 1918. educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School, and commenced training for the Air Force in 1941.

Colbert, says the citation, always displayed keenness, courage and efficiency of the highest standard. As a wireless operator he has taken part in attacks on Berlin and heavily • defended targets in the Ruhr. Colbert was born at Waipiro Bay in 1917, and commenced training as an air gunner in 1941. The citation says that Williams was a participant in daylight raids on Le Creusot and Milan,- and his operational record includes many raids on well-defended German targets. He has maintained a very high standard as a bomb-aimer and has given valuable assistance to his captain'and navigator. Williams was born at Gisborne in 1915. educated at Gisborne High School, and joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1941.