ANZAC DAY VICTORIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 2

ANZAC DAY VICTORIES

NEW ZEALAND PILOTS BATTLES OVER TUNISIA (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent (Rec. 7 p.m.) ALGIERS, Apl. 27. New Zealand fighter pilots scored at least two confirmed victories in air 'battles over the Tunisia front on Anzac Day. The two successful pilots were Pilot Officer Stanley Browne, of Highland Park, Wellington, and Flight Sergeant Allen Peart, of Raglan, Auckland—both in the Spitfire squadrons ol Air Vice Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham’s tactical air force. Pilot Officer Browne was diving on Messerschmitts below him when more German fighters swooped down from the clouds behind. “I turned round and saw three Messerschmitts, and so I pulled out of the dive and chased them,” Pilot Officer Browne said. ‘‘They did not seem to see me, but wheeled and climbed towards the cloud. Just before they disappeared I saw another Messerschmitt also climbing. I got on to his tail, climbing through 1000 feet of cloud after him. Then I climbed another 3000 feet, closing from 400 yards to 100 yards and giving him all I had. With trails of black smoke pouring from him, he overturned and plunged steeply into the cloud.” Another Messerschmitt was destroyed by 20-year-old Flight Sergeant Peart, who, with his squadron, was on a sweep over Mejez-el-Bab. Four Messerschmitts intercepted the Spitfires, and Pilot Officer Peart chased one into cloud. “I fired from about 50 yards and hit it in the fuselage. The ma r dhine rolled over and went into a spiral, and as it went spinning down to the ground I saw the pilot bale out.” Of the remaining three Messerschmitts of this formation two were damaged by another New Zealander, Squadron Leader Donald Carlson. Scores of other New Zealand and Australian airmen flew over the battlefields in difficult weather yesterday in offensive fighter sweeps and as an escort to intensive medium and light bomber raids along the line.