WAR ACHIEVEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 November 1945, Page 5

WAR ACHIEVEMENT

R.N.Z.A.F. SQUADRONS FORTY MILLION MILES FLOWN MINISTER GIVES DETAILS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. Squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force operating from the United Kingdom a:»d in the South Pacific flew more than 40,000,000 miles during the war in those theatres. They were airborne for 257,100 operational hours on j 93,750 sorties, and in combat with the enemy destroyed 312 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed 40 and | damaged 113. i In releasing these figures to-day, the Minister of Defence, (Mr Jones) emphasised that they recorded merely ! th*i activities of purely R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons and did not take into account the work of New Zealanders serving in the Royal Air Force in widely scattered theatres from Europe to the Far East. It should be realised, for example, that the operational figures of New Zealand squadrons in Britain x*ep*esented only a very small part of the work done by R.N.Z.A.F. i personnel in the United Kingdom, as most of them served in R.A.F. units. “While the measure of the R.N.Z.A.F.’s magnificent achievement cannot be stated in figures,” Mr Jones declared, “statistical records now available do give some idea of the remarklable extent of our air operations and I some slight picture of the success 1 gained. This success has been recognised in terms of the highest praise by Allied commanders in whatever theatre of wax' our men have fought. By their deeds, by their skill and their courage, and Ly their sacrifice, they have estab- , lished traditions that will live forever lin our history and in the hearts of our I people.”

i Giving details of the different war 1 zones, Mr Jones sai 1 that R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons operating in the South and South-west Pacific areas had flown a : total of 21,468.000 miles “rom the opening of hostilities in the Pacific up to IVJ Day (15th August). They carried ; out 54,670 sorties against the enemy i and were airborne for 158,800 operat- | ional hours. They shot down 103. | J anese aircraft, 99 of which were ! accounted for by fighters, probably destroyed 15 and damaged 16. Another ; ten enemy aircraft were destroyed by ■j American aircraft receiving ground control from R.N.Z.A.F. radar units, i Their count of shipping destroyed was ! conservatively given at 200, mostly j barges and other small craft, with a i further 300 claimed as probably dei stroyed or damaged. In addition they I claimed one submarine probably de--1 stroj ed and two probably damaged. OPERATIONS IN UNITED KINGDOM “Official figures up to the end of hojtilities in Europe, which have just ' been received from R.N.Z.A.F. head- | quarters in London, show that New Zealand squadrons in the United Kingdom flew 39,080 sorties, covering nearly ! 19,000,000 miles in 98,300 operational ' hours,” the Minister continued. “These 1 squadrons destroyed 209 enemy aircraft. ! aircraft, probably destroyed 25 and ! damaged 97. During the attacks on 1 London New Zealand squadrons de- | stroyed 224 flying bombs, j “The New Zealand Torpedo Bomber ; Squadron has sunk 11 enemy ships of 38,676 tons and damaged another 11 j totalling 36.898 tons, as well as two ■ escort vessels. As part of the strike • wing, the squadron also shared in the j sinking of 19 ships of 67.079 tons and 12 i escort vessels, and damaged 18 ships of | <11,291 tons and 49 escort vessels.” HONOURS AND AWARDS J Mr Jones also announced that honours and awards won by New Zealand airmen, including those serving in the Royal Air Force, had now passed the 1,500 mark, and included more than 1.000 Distinguished Flying Crosses. A total of 1.327 British awards had been made to New Zealanders serving in the European theatre and 85 in the Pacific, while 23 American awards had gone to the Pacific and 13 to Europe. : Fourteen awards had been made to ! New Zealand airmen by foreign coun- | tries. In addition to these awards. 39 j honours had been conferred on New i Zealand airmen. 205 members of the • R.N.Z.A.F. in Europe and 157 in the j Pacific had been mentioned in dis- : patches and another 17 had received commendations.