SERVICE IN EAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26033, 22 December 1945, Page 8

SERVICE IN EAST

DOMINION AIRMEN REPATRIATION IN PROGRESS AN ARDUOUS CAMPAIGN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. With the departure of approximately 115 R.N.Z.A.F. personnel for New-Zea-land from Bombay this month, the major portion of the repatriation of the New Zealanders in the South-East Asia Command will have been completed. There will still be about 40 remaining in the command. They are principally liaison staff and men who have volunteered for extended service. Among those awaiting embarkation are men who were serving in Burma when the Japanese began to sweep through South-East Asia nearly four years ago. At that time they were not operationally trained and were flying obsolete aircraft. In spite of these odds they put up a gallant fight, inflicting heavy losses on- the invader before they were forced to'withdraw to the north. Turn of the Tide Later, as more men and materials flowed into the command, these same men began to help in the task of pushing the Japanese south again, in some cases returning to the same aerodrome from where they had been operating when the Japanese launched their treacherous attacks in December, 1941. Others awaiting return to New Zealand have been in India for only two or three months. Some of them were with squadrons preparing for the Malayan offensive. All were disappointed that after their long and intensive training they were denied the opportunity of seeing action. Among those who served throughout the Far East campaign is Flight Lieutenant C. M. Simpson, D.F.C., who is believed to have nad the longest service in the Far East of any New Zealand flyer. He sailed from New Zealand for Singapore in June, 1941. When he leaves for New Zealand he will have completed, four and a-half years’ service overseas. He will be accompanied on the return journey by his wife, a Scottish girl, whom he married at Cawnpore in July of this year. Flight Lieutenant Simpson has a vivid recollection of the biggest Japanese raids on Rangoon on December 23 and 25, 1941. His squadron, No. 67, flying Buffaloes, and an American volunteer group, consisting of one squadron of Tomahawks were the only fighters for the defence of Rangood. On both days the squadrons took off to attavk. three waves of bombers, each of 27, escorted by fighters. Twenty of the Japanese were shot down —an outstanding achieve-' ment considering that none of the pilots of No. 67 Squadron had had any operational training. After serving -with various units in India and Burma, including two months on liaison work with General Wingate’s Chindits. Flight LieutenantSimpson returned in April of last year to No. 67 Squadron, which was now equipped with Spitfires. The squadron moved into Akyab as fighter defence three days after the first Allied landings. It was through Akyab that Flight Lieutenant Simpson was evacuated when the Japanese were driving the British back in Burma. In one sortie at Akyab early this year he shot down two enemy planes, and it was shortly after this that he was awarded the D.F.C. For the last six months he has been a test pilot at Cawnpore. Transport Across the “Hump” Flight Lieutenant M. W. Wrenall, captain, and Flying Officer R. N. McKenzie, wireless operator, who will be joining a draft at Bombay shortly, were members of the first Allied aircraft to land at Hongkong after the surrender of the island early in September. They were members of a R.A.F. squadron transporting passengers and supplies across the “ Hump ” (the Himalayas), and were detached from this work to carry supplies into Hongkong. Flight Lieutenant Wrenall comes from Westmere, Auckland, and Flying Officer McKenzie from Wellington. Another distinction gained by a New Zealander awaiting repatriation is that of being the pilot of the first aircraft on a scheduled run from Calcutta to Hongkong. He is Flight Lieutenant J. Stuart, D.F.C., of Birkenhead, Auckland. Also wearing the D.F.C. ribbon is Warrant Officer E. P. Stocker, who has been flying Liberators. The announcement of the award was made on October 20 last. 10 months after Warrant Officer Stocker finished his tour. He says he has no idea why he was chosen for the honour, but, as he was laying mines between Penang and Georgetown and flying over heavily-defended Bangkok, it is not difficult to guess the reason.