NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25849, 21 May 1945, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

FINE RECORD IN EUROPE MANY DECORATIONS WON (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, May 18.. The fine record of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the European theatre of war is one of which all New Zealanders can be proud. An outline of this record has been sketched in a short account of their work produced by the historical section of R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters. This states that 10,363 New Zealanders served in this theatre. They suffered 3410 casualties, including prisoners, and' won 1021 honours and awards. Behind the&e dry statistics lies a glorious story. Seven New Zealand squadrons operated in the European theatre. The personnel on their nominal rolls represented a little over 8 per cent, of the total R.N.Z.A.F. personnel in the theatre. The first to be formed was the famous No. 75 Squadron, which began operating with Wellingtons, then transferred to Stirlings, and finally to Lancasters. Its first operational flight :was made on December 14, 1939. It is still flying—but is now bringing liberated prisoners back to England. No. 75 Squadron took part in the first. 1000-plane raid, and in many subsequent important operations. It operated at dawn on D-Day, June 6, 1944, assisted in bombing the Falaise gap, and gained a. reputation for flying the largest number of sorties and dropping the greatest weight of bombs in its group during several phases of Bomber Command’s operations. From May, 1940, to December, 1944, its aircraft flew for 34,500 hours on 6923 sorties, dropping 18,076 tons of bombs and firing 652,578 rounds of small ammunition. The number of night-fighters the squadron shot down is not given, but it is estimated at over 60 Decorations Listed The personnel of the squadron, which included men from all parts of the Empire, in addition to New Zealanders, won the following decorations:—Victoria Cross, 1; D. 5.0., 6; 2; bar to D.F.C., 2; D.F.C., 114; Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, 3; D.F.M., 58; 8.E.M., 5. The New Zealand Spitfire Squadron (485) was formed in March, 1941, and funds totalling £126,000 were raised by public subscription in New Zealand. Between April, 1941, and December, 1944, the squadron flew for 13,811 hours on 10,195 sorties. It fired 234,999 rounds of ammunition and dropped 147 tons of bombs. Its pilots carried out many offensive sweeps, escorted bombers on numerous operations, and did much bombing on its own account. It was the first New Zealand squadron to operate in France after the invasion of Normandy. Its score is 63 destroyed, 25 probably destroyed, and 32 damaged. Its pilots won the following:— D.S.'O., 1; bar to D.F.C., 4; D.F.C.,. 15; D.F.M., 1; Croix de Guerre, 1. No. 486 Squadron was formed in 1942 and first operated with Hurricanes as a night-fighter squadron. Later it operated with Typhoons, and then Tempests. To December, 1944, it flew 11,010 hours on 9581 sorties. It fired 194,895 rounds of ammunition and dropped 66 tons of bombs. Its pilots destroyed 70 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed seven, and damaged 18. They also shot down 231 flying bombs and shared in -the destruction of another. They also destroyed several E. and R. boats in the Channel. Pilots won the following: D.S.O. one, bar to D.F.C. one, D.F.C. 15.

Special Operations No. 48 Squadron was formed in August, 1942. and first operated with Venturas, and then with Mosquitos. Flying Venturas, the squadron bombed great rail centres in Belgium, France, and Holland in the pre-invasion period, and in Mosquitos took part in many special operations, including the attack on Amiens Prison and the Gestapo headquarters at Aarhus and Copenhagen. They also flew as night intruders. From December, 1942, to December, 1944, the squadron flew for 5558 hours on 2337 sorties. It fired 307,244 rounds of ammunition and dropped 1249 tons of bombs. Its pilots won the following: D.S.O. one, bar to D.F.C. one. D.F.C. 15, D.F.M. three. No. 488 Squadron was reformed in Britain in June, 1942, after Singapore. It was a night-fighter squadron and first operated with Beaufighters from an airfield in Scotland. It also destroyed many trains in Northern France until early in 1944 it was equipped with Mosquitos. By June, 1944, it had shot down 20 enemy aircraft. and during the battle of Normandy accounted for 27 more. By the time it disbanded recently its score had risen to 67, with four probably destroyed and 10 damaged. To December, 1944. the hours flown on 2261 sorties totalled 5345. Its pilots won the following: D.S.O. one, M.B.E. one, bar to D.F.C. seven, D.F.C. eight, A.F.C. one, D.F.M. one, Dutch Flying Cross one.

No. 489 was a torpedo-bomber squadron. Formed early in 1941 it first flew Hampdens and later was -reequipped with ' Beaufighters. Flying through bad weather it destroyed much shipping off Norway and Holland and at the Skaggerak. Its score was 19 motor vessels totalling 73,000 tons destroyed and 15 motor vessels totalling 36,000 tons seriously damaged.