N.Z. SUCCESSES IN AIR

Southland Times, Issue 25709, 19 July 1943, Page 5

N.Z. SUCCESSES IN AIR

INVERCARGILL PILOT PROMINENT (Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. The New Zealand Spitfire squadron has opened its account at Biggin Hill. It shot down two Focke-Wulf 190 s while escorting bombers raiding Poix. They were shot down by the commanding officer, Squadron Leader John Checketts (Invercargill) and Flying Officer J. Rae, D.F.C. (Auckland), who probably destroyed another. Pilot Officer H. S. Tucker (Palmerston North) probably destroyed one also. The previous day Wing Commander Alan Deere, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and bar, probably destroyed a Focke-Wulf. Squadron Leader Checketts damaged another. In these engagements several pilots had fights, including Flight Lieutenant M. G. Barnett (Wellington), who is now a flight commander, and Flight Sergeant F. D. Clark (Wanganui) and L. S. M. White (Gore). Squadron Leader Checketts shot down a Focke-Wulf when about 20 enemy aircraft attacked him. Flight Lieutenant M. R. D. Hume (Wellington), Flying Officer B. E. Gibbs (Taihape) and M. G. Sutherland (Po r t Chalmers) and Flight Sergeants White and Clark were in the fight. Squadron Leader Checketts got on to the FockeWulf’s tail and sent it down in flames. He was then attacked by four enemy planes, which chased him to 20,000 feet until the Fighting French _ squadron (which flies in the same wing as _ the New Zealanders) arrived. This brings Squadron Leader Checkett’s score to four destroyed. Meanwhile, Flying Officer Rae, with Flight Lieutenant Barnett and Pilot

Officer Tucker were surrounded by Focke-Wulfs. Dog-fighting developed, then Flying Officer Rae dived down from 20,000 to 12,000 feet after a solitary Focke-Wulf which he finished off. This was his first fight since returning from Malta. His score is now seven and a-half destroyed. HARD BATTLE The previous day the squadron was escorting Flying Fortresses back from a raid on Villa Coublay. It ran into strong opposition, Wing Commander Deere having one of his stiffest fights for some time. He and Flight Sergeant Clark were coming out over the coast when two Focke-Wulfs came up behind them. Wing Commander Deere did a tight turning dive and the Germans cleverly made a head-on attack, then shot past below. Wing Commander Deere, who got on the tail of one, fired bursts and saw the Focke-Wulf making for the French coast with streaming smoke, but it was not seen to crash. Flight Sergeant Clark also had a stiff fight. Meanwhile, Squadron Leader Checkett’s section, with Flight Lieutenant Barnett and Flying Officer M. Metcalf (Wellington) attacked six enemy planes. Squadron. Leader Checketts damaged one before nine more FockeWulfs arrived and made determined attacks all the way to the coast. Flight Lieutenant Hume’s section also got into the fight. The squadron’s score is. now 43 destroyed. It has settled down well in its new role. Squadron Leader Checketts led the wing twice while Wing Commander Deere was carrying out his duties as station commander during Group Captain A. G. Malan’s absence on leave.

New Zealanders in the Spitfire Squadron in addition to those mentioned are Flight Lieutenant K. C. Lee (Auckland), Flying Officers O. A. Ainge (Dunedin), D. G. E. Brown, P.

H. Gaskin (Auckland), J. G. Dasent (Hastings), I. J. McNeil (Tiritiki) and I. P. Maskill (Invercargill), Pilot Officers D. A. Roberts (New Plymouth) and J. G. Houlton (Christchurch), Warrant Officer E. N. Leech (Gisborne), Flight Sergeants N. E. Frehner (Gisborne), C. Mclnnes (Auckland), D. C. Robins (Wanganui), and R. I. Transom (Taihape), Sergeants G. C. Cooper (Mosgiel), W. T. Strachan (Christchurch). , The New Zealanders express the opinion that the German fighter pilots have recently been showing more aggressiveness than for some time.