“STALKING” TRAINS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 June 1943, Page 5

“STALKING” TRAINS

N.Z. FIGHTER PILOTS’ WORK INTRUDER PATROLS OVER FRANCE London. June 23. A small white plume of smoke standing out in the moonlight-bathed countryside of north-west France is what the pilots of the New Zealand Beaufighter Squadron seek when they carry out intruder raids during moon periods. The white plume is the tell-tale track of a locomotive. When they see it the pilots begin to “stalk the train and take up a position abeam, then go in in a low long approach. When they open up fire on the locomotive with cannon shells the locomotive usually begins to spout steam like a colander, and the train soon pulls up, and the Beaufighter roars away seeking another “white plume.” The squadron has now accounted for some 40 trains.

Group Captain J. Manson, and Squadron Leader K. Crichton, of R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters, who visited the squadron, were interested to learn these details. Pilot Officer G. F. Reed, of Auckland, so far holds the squadron’s record of 13 trains. Reed has twice shot up three locomotives in one night. Locomotives rarely blew up by explosion, but once he saw an engine burst completely into flames, suggesting it was oil-burning, or its firebox had been split open. Once Reed attacked two trains in a station at Flers. He was coned by searchlights at 300 feet, so went down to roof-top level and then hit one train. On another occasion Reed spent two and a-half hours over France, going 150 miles inland, successfully attacking three trains.

Pilot Officer E. C. Watts (Invercargill) shot up six trains, getting four in one hour. “They were about five minutes flying from each other. One of them was in a station. It was my lucky night for I had previously seen very little.”

Flight-Sergeant D. N. Robinson (Gisborne), whose score is three, missed one train in his first attack when the engine driver cut off steam in an attempt to escape, but Robinson waited 10 minutes and then saw steam respout, so he attacked it successfully. Squadron Leader F. Davison (Timaru) was away on operations during Group Captain Manson’s visit, but reports indicated that he got a further train, making his total ten. Flying Officer R G Jeffs (Wanganui) and Flight Sergeant K. R. Fleming (Gisborne) also made successful attacks.

The squadron shoots up trucks and lorries on the roads, knowing they must be Germans, as there is a 9 p m curfew for the French. They attack head-on, sighting at the headlamps, which, although masked, still make a good target.

Group Captain Manson found the squadron anxious for a transfer to betime 6 fUlIy operational instead of part

Visiting a Hampden torpedo-bomber squadron, Group Captain Manson learned it had engaged in a few operations in the past six weeks. This was due to improved weather and long hours of daylight. The squadron prefers to make a ttacks on shipping off Norway in bad weather, when it has clouds for cover from fighters or during moonlight, but at present it is the twilight period. Many pilots in this squadron are due for a rest, but all told Group Captain Manson that they would much prefer to continue operations. They are somewhat off the beaten track and rarely see visitors. As a result they asked him questions solidly for an hour and a half. The squadron’s New Zealand personnel has fallen recently It is at present only 15 to 20 per cent.— P .A. Special Correspondent.