BOMBS ON GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25801, 23 March 1945, Page 4

BOMBS ON GERMANY

SCENES OF DEVASTATION GALLANT DOMINION AIRMEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 22. So stupendous was the damage inflicted on enemy territory by the R.A.F. Bomber Command that hp did not think even the British public realised the extent of it, said Squadron Leader W. J. R. Scollay, D.F.C., of Wellington, a recently-returned airman. He gave as an example the twin cities of Barmen and Eberfeld, which formed the city of Wuppertal, which were completely destroyed in one attack. The result could be compared with the destruction of a city the size of Wellington. The main attack on such places was by incendiaries, the Germans having taught the British a lesson in the Battle of Britain that incendiaries did more damage than high explosive. Squadron Leader Scollay, who was a former member of the No. 75 (New Zealand) Bomber Squadron, said the squadron was considered to be in the top flight of Bomber Command, and the New Zealanders in the squadron now numbered about 50 per cent.

An original member of No. 75 Squadron, which was formed shortly after the outbreak of the war from 30 Wellington bombers then due to be flown to the Dominion, is Squadron Leadet F. J. Lucas, D.F.C. and bar, of Balclutha, who also recently returned from overseas after more than five years’ active service. By November 16, 1940, he had completed 37 raids, and by 1943 his total was 53 reconnaissance and major bombing attacks. For a time he was flight commander of the New Zealand Mosquito Squadron. Squadron Leader Lucas did outstanding work in photographing heavily-defended targets, and his courage and 'perseverance in this dangerous type of operation was described in the citation to the bar of his D.F.C. as most marked. He was back in New Zealand in 1943 after two complete operational tours with the R.A.F. to lead successfully a special mission in pioneering R.N.Z.A.F. transnort routes in the South-west Pacific. He then returned to England to do a third tour of operations with the R.A.F.

Occupying with five others eleventh place in the list of New Zealanders who have shot down five or more pnemy aircraft. Squadron Leader D. W. Westenra. D.F.C. and bar, of Dunsandel. is another of the long-service airmen who recently returned to the Dominion. His score is 11. He served in Greece and Crete in Gladiators (the last biplane figh + ers in the Royal Air Force), flew Tomahawks in Libya, Kittyhawks ton te ct > jn Spitfires from El Agbeila and Sicily, and Mustangs in the European theatre. In the Desert campaign Squadron Leader led a squadron with “ conspicuous ability.”