SECOND FIGHTER SQUADRON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 119, 20 April 1942, Page 5

SECOND FIGHTER SQUADRON

AIRMEN FROM NEW ZEALAND. (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, April IS. The second New Zealand Fighter Squadron, which has now been formed, is Hying Hurricanes and will probably, become a night-fighting unit. It is led bv an English commanding officer who iought in the Battle of France, where he shot down three Huns, lie is very popular. Flight-Lieut. H. N. Sweetman, of Auckland, and Flight-Lieut. J. Clouston, of Wellington, are the flight-commanders. Flight-Lieut. Sweetman was formerly in the first NewZealand Fighter Squadron, while Flight-Lieut. Clouston belonged to the "unofficial" New Zealand Squadron led by his D.F.C. brother, who is believed to be a prisoner. . The squadron's adjutant is FlyingOfficer T. Ness, of Duuedin, who served in the last war at Suez and lsmailia. !<>ypt Three famous New Zealand fighter pilots at the same station are Wing-Commander P. G. Jameson, U F.C and bar, of Lower Hutt, who has been leading his wing in recent sweeps over France; Sqadron-Leader C Grey. D.F.C. and bar, of Gisborne, who has shot down nearly 20 Huns; and Squadron-Leader I. C. Smith, D.F.C, of Auckland. Two New Zealanders who have experienced violent changes of climate are Pilot-Officer W. J. Wakelm (Wellington) and Sergt.-Observer D Shakes (Wellington). They flew Sunderlands in Iceland patrols last year and then were transferred to Bathurst (West Africa), where they have been for ten months. Sergt.-Observer Shakes has carried out 1500 operation hours in Sunderlands. . The experiences of Pilot-Officer A. George, D.F.M.. of Hawera, were quoted bv the Air Ministry in ordei to exemp'lifv the perils facing bombers raiding Germany/ Pilot-Officer George said: "We were raiding the Ruhr and had just opened our bomb doors when the plane was hit by flak along its whole length. The needle o the airspeed indicator flopped back to zero and several other instruments went. The rear-gunner was hit. while one o the petroi pressure pipes was gashed and petrol streamed along the fuselage, ru ni.ig down the cat-walk and pmir- „* out the back of the machine. When the wireless operator went to assist the rear-gunner the petrol was well over his ankles. The second pilot was partially successful in stopping the flow of petrol by. using first-ad bandages and wrappings. But the plane kept going, although both engines cut as we neared the coast, when the petrol in the main tank' ran out. We pumped down carriage by hand and landed safely.