FAMOUS AIRMAN
WING COMMANDER CHECKETTS RETURN TO THE DOMINION (P.A) AUCKLAND, Oct. 2. The masterly capacity for reticence and under-statement which is characteristic of New Zealanders who have won fame in the air was again demonstrated this morning by Wing Commander J. M. Checketts, D. 5.0., D.F.C., United States Silver Star, of Invercargill, who arrived at Auckland after an absence from the Dominion' of five years. Wing Commander Checketts commended the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron and also a wing consisting of English, Canadian, and Polish pilots.
He shot down at least 11 planes and was himself shot down over France. Of his personal achievements Wing Commander Checketts to-day steadfastly refused to talk. He characterised the Poles as magnificent fighters. They were men, he said, who fought as if for a lost cause. Always ready to sacrifice their own lives, they sometimes allowed their tenacity to get the better of their judgment. The New Zealanders, he said, were the. best of all. Their outstanding ability was due to the excellence of their training. \Ying Commander Checketts is expected to leave for the south to-mor-row. 1
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19451003.2.27
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 25964, 3 October 1945, Page 4
Word Count
184FAMOUS AIRMAN Otago Daily Times, Issue 25964, 3 October 1945, Page 4
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Otago Daily Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in