OVER THE ADRIATIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 25 January 1944, Page 3

OVER THE ADRIATIC

N.Z. SPITFIRE PILOTS ON PROWL SUPPORT FOR YUGOSLAV PATRIOTS (Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) Italy, Jan. 14. While New Zealand troops have struggled through steep hills on the Eighth Army’s front below the Majella mountains, other men from the Dominion have been fighting another battle against the Germans ifr southern Europe. They are Spitfire pilots of the coastal air force. Day after day since the Allied landing in Italy, at least eight New Zealanders in these squadrons have crossed the Adriatic to attack with bombs, cannon and machine-guns in support of patriot forces fighting in Yugoslavia. Not many miles from the Spitfire bases in Italy they have found targets in German encampments, radio stations, columns and transport along the roads of Jugoslavia. Unlike most Spitfire pilots operating in Italy they have also found German fighter opposition and have shot down several Mes in running battles over the sea. One coastal fighter squadron, famous for battles in the defence of Malta, now has as commanding officer, a New Zealander, SquadronLeader Richard Webb, of Levin, formerly test pilot in the Middle East. Webb and Flight-Lieutenant Edward Schrader, of Wellington, shared in the destruction of four German fighters caught trying to interfere with a sea rescue operation. His squadron—one of the youngest in the R.A.F.—has shot down eight Mes in a few weeks. Another New Zealander, a Rakaia farmer, Pilot Officer Nonpan Harrison, has a score of two and a-half confirmed. “The Hun has the wind up these days, Squadron Leader Webb said in an interview. “It is very different from Malta. One month there in October, 1942, we shot down 21$. Now every time they are near, there are several of us to share in the kill.” Two more Old Malta fighter formations, one of them a Gold Coast squadron, which with 322 confirmed victories has one of the highest total scores in the R.A.F. this war, have New Zealand pilots. They are Flying Officer Arnold Lamb of Dunedin, Pilot Officer R. A. Caldwell, of Huntly, Flight Sergeants C. F. Jacobsen, Wellington, R. L. Austin, Christchurch, and K. C. Loe, Marlborough, all of whom have been flying Spitfires on these strafing and bombing raids across Yugoslavia and i Albania.