DUNEDIN AIRMAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 8 January 1944, Page 5

DUNEDIN AIRMAN

EXPERIENCES ABROAD ‘ MEMBER OF "MILLIONAIRES’ * SQUADRON Advice has been received that Squadron Leader Bruce Ingram, D.F.C.. R.N.Z.A.F.. son of Mr and Mrs C. W. Ingram, of Dunedin, is now stationed in India (states the “Otago Daily Times"). Squadron Leader Ingram, who has been overseas for three years, has served in England. Scotland, Malta, the Middle East, Sicily, and Italy. He has completed 1000 hours’ flying, including 450 hours on operational flying. While serving in Sicily Squadron l eader Ingram was a flight commander in a squadron commanded by Squadron Leader E. D. Mackie, D.F.C. and bar, of Waihi. and known as the "Millionaires’ Squadron” because of the fact that it included Sir Philip Sassoon, Sir Archibald Hope, and Mr Whitney Straight. Up to 29th December this squadron had shot down 292 aircraft. When Squadron Leader Ingram was promoted to the command of the Hyderabad Squadron in Sicily and Italy, he was one of four New Zealanders holding the l'ank of squadron leader or higher ih two wings of the R.A.F. operating in that area. The others were Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Colin Gray, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and ( two bars, of Gisborne; Squadron Leader E. D. Mackie. of Waihi, and Squadron Leader G. Westenra, of Canterbury. Writing from Italy, Squadron Leader Ingram says: -"The food is very good and can be augmented to a great extent by the natural resources of the land —eggs, meat, vegetables, and plenty of fresh fruit. You would be surprised at how much difference there is in tempers, dispositions, and flying if the food is good and stays that way. "We had a comparatively quiet spell for a while after Sicily fell, and to help pass the evenings we organised spelling competitions, a quiz and two concerts, and these went over very well. So far, in both Italy and Sicily, we have seen no signs of any travelling show or moving picture units, and the evenings become very boring unless we resort to some sort of entertainment.” THE MALTA CROSS Squadron Leader Ingram was operating from Malta at the height of the blitz, and is one of 20 New Zealanders entitled to wear the Malta Cross. "You can imagine the sardonic pleasure I had in operating from an aerodrome in Sicily from which the previous year the enemy launched his savage hordes against Malta,” he added. Even in the midst of the operations in Italy the thoughts of many New Zealanders turned to Rugby football, and Squadron Leader Ingram, who formerly played for the Pirates’ Football Club, said he was endeavouring to form a squadron team. "With the cooler days,” he stated, "everyone has a great deal more energy and stamina, and Rugby and Association football will provide grand outlets. He added that he was now the owner of an Italian car which, strangely enough, formerly belonged to the chief of the fire brigade in a nearby town. Squadron Leader Ingram’s father is station officer at the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Station.