FIGHTER SQUADRON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 23 June 1943, Page 2

FIGHTER SQUADRON

STATION IN PACIFIC PLANES FLY FROM N.Z. (Official N.Z.E.F. News Service) An achievement then unique in the history of New Zealand aviation, the transfer from New Zealand to a forward fighting area in the South Pacific of a fighter squadron under its own power was completed in April with the arrival in the war zone of a New Zealand Kittyhawk squadron. Not only did the squadron’s pilots ferry their own warplanes from the Dominion, but New Zealand bombers and United States transports also carried across many hundreds of miles of sea a large proportion of the requisite ground crews, with their equipment, enabling the squadron, in fighting trim, to reach the battle area in a fraction of the time that would have been occupied by surface transport. Close co operation between the Air Force authorities of New Zealand and the United States, and liaison among all sections of the New Zealand Air Department contributed to the success of the enterprise, which was attended by more difficulties than might appear at first glance As soon as the last link in the chain of island airfields was forged, the long-desired air mobility of fighter squadrons became a practical proposition. One of New Zealand’s fighter squadrons was ordered to move to the war zone and plans were rapidly completed. New Kittyhawk aircraft, freshly arrived from the United States, were assembled, test-flown at a New Zealand station, and collected directly by pilots of the squadron concerned. Each pilot was allocated his own machine—the machine in which he was to fly direct from New Zealand to the war—and as soon as the first half dozen had been , delivered, a departure date was set. Hudson aircraft of another New Zealand squadron were allocated as escorts, arrangements made with the American authorities to provide two large Douglas transports and a representative party of airmen of the fighter unit chosen to go as a flying service party. ODD ASSORTMENT It was an oddly assorted convoy and escort that finally assembled at a North Island station. The Kittyhawks, lean fighting aircraft not intended for long distance operation, carried long range tanks to gime them the requisite fuel fo - the journey; the Hudsons, to which a 1000-mile ocean crossing is a commonplace. were detailed to fly one ahead and one astern of the fighters, and the Douglases, wartime versions of the famous DC-3 of American civil airlmes, were heavy with ground crews, their luggage, their kits, the Kittyhawk pilots’ luggage and surplus equipment. and those essential oddments involved in such a journey. So they took off. The Kittyhawks were throttled well back for economy and jo keep their speed down to that ot the rest of the convoy; the Hudsons near their maximum cruising speed; the Doug.ases fully extended within safe ealViJ -t A fly ?u g someone ?J ed A. s 10 aircraft took up station behind the leader, and swept away to the north. FIRST PARTY NEAR DISASTER The fickle weather ol the South Pacific almost brought disaster near the first party. The Kittyhawks, after a long stretch over the ocean, reached the end of their second hop to find their destination, an island aerodrome, completely enhrouded in low, swirling cloud and blinding rain. Under the protecting guidance of their Hudson escort they cruised back and forth along | the coast, trying to poke their sharp I ,. rough a bl 'eak in the weather, but finding only rain, mist and growing darkness. The Hudson cruised till her margin of fuel to return to the day’s s a TVP S po ' nt was a bare minimum, and then was obliged to leave the fightbackWhiCh haC * n ° chance oE getting When their fuel was nearly done the commander of the Kittyhawk party or deied his pilots down on the best eountry he could find, a curving beach that showed dimly through the murk. They dropped down out of the dark sky. 71 , Precautionary approaches, cut their throttles, and got away with it uninju: Plans made for the flights of remainWere pressed forward, and these flights went with clockwork precision. Within a couple of weeks a full tighter squadron, complete with reserve aircraft, sufficient tools and equipment to carry on till the bulk arrived, and enough trained ground personnel to keep the machines in fighting trim, came unobtrusively into the war zone to take over the defence of an island eifle l I°e Anied strategy the South Pa-