Tito’s N.Z. Airmen Strafe Huns Over Dalmatia

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1944, Page 5

Tito’s N.Z. Airmen Strafe Huns Over Dalmatia

(Received 1 p.m.) (Special) LONDON, April 26. Dive-bombing strafing Germans on the Dalmatian coast and co-operating with Tito's forces has been the recent role of a Malta Spitfire squadron, in which were Flying-Officer R. Caldwell (Marten), Warrant-Officers K. C. Loe (Marlborough) and R. Austin (Rangiora), who are now on. leave in England. They were all in the same flight and took part in attacks against aerodromes, road convoys and radiodirection finding stations, also shipping. Their last attack was made towards the end of March, when they divebombed and strafed Tarana aerodrome. R.A.F. planes. patrolling above roads, reduced traffic to a trickle. As a result the Germans were attempting to use small coastal' ships, which also had been the Spitfires’ targets on many occasions. The Allies co-operate with Tito’s forces by shooting up German convoys, while Partisans iie in wait for Germans and attack them as they hurriedly leave vehicles. Guests On Destroyers The Spitfires also patrol over destroyers as they return at dawn from bombarding enemy ports. All the New Zealanders had the oppolunity, with other pilots, for occasionally spending two or three days} aboard a destroyer on these occasions. In another squadron engaged In the same work is Flight-Sergeant C F. Jacobson (Wellington). Visit Tc Naples Warrant-Officer Loe visited Naples before going to England. He met Flight-Sergeant J. T. Aspinall (Dunedin) and Flight-Sergeant E. Wood (Auckland), who had been sever a. times at Anzio beachhead on patrols and escorting bombers. The pilots usually stay overnight sleeping in slit trenches.