N.Z. AIRMEN’S FLIGHTS

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1944, Page 3

N.Z. AIRMEN’S FLIGHTS

IN HUGE BOMBERS News of Recent Raids in Germany (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec 9.40) LONDON, May 1. A Lancaster Squadron in which many New Zealanders are operating the latest type of this aircraft, has been fully engaged in recent operations. It carried out no fewer than five attacks in seven days, bombing Cologne, Dusseldorf, Karlsruhe, Essen and Friedrichshafen. In a previous week it bombed Rouen. Only one aircraft was lost in these operations. From the viewpoint of the aircrews, these raids have been “uneventful.” That is to say, they were not worried overmuch by flak. They were not attacked by fighters. They saw several combats in progress, and some saw aircraft going down in flames. As far as they themselves were concerned, it was a case of finding- the target, bombing it, and returning. Their longest trip was to Friedrichshafen, when Lancasters took off at dusk. They flew fifteen hundred miles before returning seven and a-half hours later, just as dawn was breaking.

The squadron is led by WingCommander R. D. Max, D.F.C., of Nelson, although technically speaking a commanding officer does not lead a bomber squadron as they fly individually. Other New Zealanders in the raid included Squadron-Leader K. Climie, D.F.C. (Lower Hutt), Flight Lieutenants E. W. Sachtler (Dunedin), E. F. Whiting (Invercargill), Flying Officers W. E. Anderson (Christchurch), G. O. Marshall (Hawke’s Bay), Pilot Officers D. W. McCardle (Martinborough), A. H. R. Zilwood and G. E. Reade (Auckland), T. J. Nation (Wellington), A R. Young (Christchurch), C. E. Armstrong (Napier); also H. Burton; Warrant Officer R. X. Axten (New Plymouth), Flight Sergeants J'. W. Collins (Canterbury), F. G. Stewart (Wellington), D. B. Mayne (Invercargill),’ E. Marshall (Hastings), C. A. Megson (Auckland); also A. W. Fagg and T E. Rowe. “There was a nice carpet of fires going when We were over one target,” was ; . the comment of one New Zealander. “It was easy to find, and the great Lake Constance was a good target indicator. There seemed to be many fighters over the target area, but they did not bother us.” Max was on his twenty-first operation and Climie, who was flight commander, was on his fiftieth. Several of those mentioned took part in a raid against Essen the previous night. Others included Flying Officer J. Hannah (Lyttelton), Pilot Officers C. A. G. MacKenzie (Gore), D. E. Livingstone (Auckland), G. S. Ward (Lumsden), J. T. Teaika (Tuakiwi), Warrant Officer J. Jones (Auckland), Flight Sergeants O. J'. Hall (Christchurch), T E. Fletcher (Palmerston North) and L. Ryburn (Hamilton). For one crew, of which Teaika was a member, their visit tb Essen made their twenty-eighth operation. It was a clear, starry night. Aircrews declared they had a magnificent view of belts of searchlights and ' multi-coloured flak. Teaika’s crew, which is now nearing the end of its tour, had an eventful first operation when they bombed Hanover. Their aircraft was coned by searchlights, and in trying to stall the engines in order to drop straight out of the lights, the aircraft, with too much speed, went on its back, and it fell ten thousand feet in a few seconds. When it righted itself, the aircraft was attacked by a Junkers 88, which Teaika, who was rear-gunner, promptly shot down. This crew also went to Karlsruhe, meeting icing conditions, with the result that ice frequently flew off the airscrews and clanged against the fuselage, causing the crew momentarily to think it was flak. A hazard with which the squadron had to contend occasionally was attention from German intruders, which .attempt to attack aircraft while they are landing after returned from raids. One squadron, in which there are many Englishmen, Canadians and' Australians, welcomed these bomber operations as a change from minelaying, which until recently was one of their main preoccupations. A group of New Zealanders who recently completed a tour with thirty operations, and have done no fewer than twelve “mining trips,” include Flight Lieut. J. D. Grubb (Wellington), Flving Officers L. B. Stichbury (Wellington), J. A. Martin, a son of Hon Mr Lee Martin (Blenheim), Pilot Officer A. G. Chatfield (Wellington), and Flight Sgt. K. Hazlett (Invercargill). Squadron Leader D. S. Gibb (Canterbury), who for a time was a Flight Commander, recently transferred to a glidertowing squadron. His successor is Squadron Leader J. L. Drummond, D.F.C. (Auckland), who is on his second tour. Sachtler is acting-com-mander of a third flight. The squadron's navigational officer is Flight Lieut. G. A. Patrick, D.F.C. (Dunedin), who has carried out seventytwo operations in two tours, including forty-one on Mosquitoes. Flying Officer L. Dickison (Dunedin), a well-known athlete is a control officer.