N.Z. Torpedo-Bombers Smashing At Convoys

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1944, Page 7

N.Z. Torpedo-Bombers Smashing At Convoys

(Spec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON. May. 22.

Now on a station in the east of England a New Zealand Beaufighter torpedo-bomber squadron is continuing its successes against enemy shipping off the coast of Holland. New Zealanders operate with an Australian Beaufighter squadron and both squadrons on the station are commanded by Group-Captain A. E Clouston. D. 5.0.. A.F.C. and bar (Motueka), who has been promoted and appointed to the position after commanding a' Liberator squadron. Group-Captain Houston has carried out many anti-submarine patrols in the Atlantic, also patrolling over the warship in which Mr. Churchill went to the Teheran conference. The New Zealanders are continuing the same role in which they performed so conspicuously while in Scotland when they sank many ships off the Norwegian coast. Their work falls into three categories. They carry out reconnaissances in pairs along the shipping lanes off the Dutch coast, seeking convoys. When one 1 is sighted the squadron takes off with a proportion of Beaufighters loaded with torpedoes and others act as escorts, going in to "beat up" flakships which escort the merchantmen.

Fly at Low Level

An Australian squadron yvhich concentrates entirely on this role, not dropping torpedoes, accompanies the New Zealanders as "anti-flak” escort. They fly at very low level as they roar out over the North Sea in formation. They get as low down to the water as possible, often flying only seven or eight yards over the sea and once a convoy is sighted anti-flak Beaufighters go on ahead and strafe the ships while torpedo-bombers pick out the targets, climb to about 50 feet above them and release their "torps.”

This coastal traffic has become increasingly important to the Germans as a result of disruption of land communications and, in the words of one New Zealander, he Germans are so "fond" of these merchantmen that they provide at least three flak-ships as escorts for each merchantman. The result is that Beaufighters expect to meet a wall of fire as well as a balloon barrage when they go in to attack —unless they manage to surprise the enemy which frequently occurs. Others In The Attack Other New Zealanders in the attack were: Flying-Officer W. A. Fraser. D.F.M. (Auckland), Pilot-Officer C. M. Tapper (Invercargill), Warrant Officers Wright, R. Shand (Christchurch), and Flight-Sergeants D. Mann (Christchurch) and M. Langley (Dunedin). Flying-Officer Fraser is a newcomer to the squadron. He won the D.F.M. in North Africa, where he carried out many attacks in torpedo-carrying Wellingtons; A conspicuous act of gallantry was that by Langley, who took paid in an attack one evening at dusk. Eight Beaufighters came on a convoy and suddenly encountered accurate flak. Langley’s aircraft was damaged and he was injured, but he immediately carried on and carried out the attack. On the homeward flight an English observer stood behind him assisting him to manage the controls. Then Langley made an excellent landing to win high praise from Wing-Commander Dinsdale.

Flight-Lieutenant D. Moynihan (Nelson) was recently awarded the D.F.C. for outstanding work, as also the other flight-commander, who is an Englishman.

Squadron Leader L. A. Robertson (Auckland), who previously flew with Group. Captain. (Houston's Liberator squadron, is at present filling the post of Wing-Commander, flying on the station. Since January the squadron has attacked 120,000 tons of enemy shipping off Norway and Holland, of which it has either sunk or damaged 35.000 tons.

Full Of Danger

But the fact that they are flying so low makes it one of the most dangerous operations, for if an aircraft is badly hit, it crashes into the sea immediately, giving the crew little or perhaps no chance of baling out. During May. the New Zealanders who commanded were; Wing Commander J. S. Dinsdalc, D.F.C., of Te Kuiti, carried out two successful

“strikes,” as these torpedo attacks are called. The first, which was led by a young English flight-commander, Squadron Leader P. Hughes, was an effective surprise, and the operation was ::o successful he was awarded an immediate D.F.C.. New Zealanders in the attack included Flying Officers A. R. Osment (Christchurch). J. Gow (Levin), and Warrant Officers R. J. W. Hey and Jas. Wright (Dunedin)

The Beaufighters found good visibility war Borkute. ana we’re about to return to base, having sighted no convoy, when they sighted smoke. It was a large group of ships numbering about 20. ' The convoy was immediately attacked and torpedo hits were secured by Hughes. Gow and Wright.