FLYING BEAUFIGHTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25473, 1 March 1944, Page 5

FLYING BEAUFIGHTERS

NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON SHIPS TORPEDOED OFF NORWAY (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON. Feb. 28. A New Zealand Beaufighter torpedobomber squadron last week attacked about 25,000 tons of shipping off the coast of Norway. It definitely sank two ships and fired torpedoes at four more, the results of which were unobserved. .-These attacks followed up previous recent successful sorties. The squadron, which is commanded by Wing Commander J. Dinsdale. D.F.C., of Te Kuiti, has two English flight commanders, Squadron Leaders Kellow and P. A. Hughes. Seventy per cent, of the pilots are New Zealanders, while the majority of navigators are English. Last week’s successes began when Squadron Leader Kellow hit a 5000ton ship surrounded by several escorts, and Flight Lieutenant F. K. Moynihan, of Nelson, attacked a 4000-tonner. They took off about two hours before dawn. It was a very black morning. They flew low over the sea. Kellow made a landfall, then turned southwards and flew on until the light began to break. He was just thinking he would have to return to base when he saw several columns of smoke, which proved to be 12 or more ships, including one about 5000 tons. He made a beam attack, encountering heavy fire from the ships and shore batteries, but dropped his torpedo at about 200 ft and a range of 1000yds. then broke to port. He later saw a black nail of smoke from the ship he attacked. , Meanwhile Moynihan had made a landfall and flew over a Norwegian fishing fleet. He continued to patrol, and was about to turn for home when he sighted a column of smoke, flew towards it, and in two minutes saw five more ships. It was another convoy, so he singled out the biggest ship. No one had noticed him, probably because he attacked from the dark side of the sky, not where the sun was rising. He dropped his torpedo at 800 yards’ range, narrowly missing one of the escorts on its way to the water. Moynihan then turned sharply away, and the batteries opened up. He did not observe the result of the attack. Dunedin Pilot in Action

Three days later seven Beaufighters again took off shortly /before dawn. In one was Flight Sergeant J. A. Wright, of Dunedin. Wright sighted a maze of bobbing lights of a fishing fleet, then a 4000-ton merchantman. He circled, and attacked from 600 yards, but, owing to the need to take violent evasive action, had no time to see the result.

Meanwhile, Flight Sergeant J. M. Oliver, of Napier, was patrolling, when he sighted a convoy of two merchantmen and three escort ships. He attacked a 5000-tonner from the dark side of the sky, but did not see any result while avoiding inaccurate flak. Hughes went to an anchorage, which was full of shipping. He flew low over the island and dropped a torpedo at. an 8000-tonner. It was a perfect surprise attack, and met with no opposition. Immediately after dropping the torpedo, he swept away low over the island, so he, too, was unable to observe the result. Another attack was made south of Stavanger by an English pilot, Flying Officer R. Connell, who saw a 4000-ton ship blow up. The squadron is naturally elated by these successes, and, although some pilots had not the satisfaction of seeing their torpedoes hit, it is very likely that they, too, were successful judging from the range. It frequently happens that successes later are confirmed when wrecks are sighted during subsequent sorties.

While some Beaufighters use torpedoes, others are given the role of quietening the defences by going before the torpedoes shooting up ships with cannon shell. The squadrons carried out that form of attack recently off Stavanger, and left a ship burning. Moynihan and Flight Sergeant C. M. Tapper, of Christchurch, dropped torpedoes from a good position. Kellow immediately carried on, and struck another ship, which blew up with a terrific explosion.

Flying Officer I. A. Pettit, of Dunedin, also attacked, but was put off his aim by a Messerschmitt 109 and had to seek cloud cover. Nose of Plane Drops Off Flying Officer R. H. Tonks, of Wellington, saw a 4000-ton ship explode when his torpedo hit. He had a narrow escape when flak damaged his windscreen. He carried on and beat up the offending gunners with cannon, and when he landed the tip of the aircraft’s nose immediately dropped off. It had been kept in position until then by the pressure of the wind.

Mr W. J. Jordan, accompanied by Group Captain A. L. Manson, recently visited the squadron and warmly congratulated it on its success. They were delighted with the squadron’s high morale.

A recent newcomer to the squadron is Flight Lieutenant D. H. Hammond, of Christchurch, who won the D.F.C. flying Beaufighters in the Mediterranean.

Other New Zealanders in the squadron include Flight Sergeant T. H. Davidson (Rotorua), Flying Officers W. R. Baillie (Timaru), W. A. Fraser. D.F.M., and A. C. Lynch (both of Auckland), A. R. Osment and H. R. McKegg (both of Christchurch), J. G. Gow (Levin). Pilot Officers J. J. O’Connor (Christchurch), A. H. Knewstubb (Dunedin). Warrant Officer F. F. G. Burrowes (New Plymouth), Flight Sergeants W. R. Tuck (Auckland), D. M. Tunniclifi'e (Invercargill), F. E. Hall (Gisborne), and R. J. H. Hey and M. L. Langley (both of Dunedin).