HURRICANE PILOTS’ FINE RECORD

Southland Times, Issue 24986, 24 February 1943, Page 5

HURRICANE PILOTS’ FINE RECORD

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, February 22. The British United Press Algiers correspondent states that the first pilot to reach North Africa last November was Wing-Commander W. G. Pedley, D.F.C., of Hampshire, who commands a group of Hurricane pilots including Sergeant-Pilot C. P. Ashworth, of Alexandra, New Zealand. They have created a world record for the consistency of their operations. A squadron attached to the wing flew nearly 2000 hours during January protecting convoys in the Mediterranean. Their record compares with an average of 400 to 500 hours monthly for fighter squadrons during the Battle of Britain. The use of Hurricanes on anti-submarine patrol work also gives the convoys greatly increased protection against air attack Sergeant-Pilot Ashworth recently shot down a heavily armed Junkers 88. He said: “I spotted Jerry at 10,000 feet and dived on his tail. I held my fire until I got within 30 yards, firing like hell but then had to break away because bits were flying in all directions from the Junkers. Both the Junker’s engines were set on fire and the pilot seemed to be dead in the cockpit before the plane plunged into the sea.”