BACK IN FRONT LINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22476, 11 January 1943, Page 5

BACK IN FRONT LINE

N.Z. Spitfire Squadron (6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 9. The New Zealand Spitfire Squadron has returned to the front line after six months in reserve. It has been posted to the same station as the Second New Zealand Fighter Squadron, which shot down seven Germans in the week preceding Christmas. Their station commander is Group Captain H. D. McGregor, D. 5.0.. of Napier, who says: “It looks as if this area has become a little New Zealand in England. There certainly will be lively competition in shooting down Huns.” Those who are newly arrived from New Zealand state that it is not generally realised there that six New Zealand squadrons are now operating in Britain, in addition to the two fighter squadrons mentioned. There is also the famous 75th Squadron which is now dying Stirlings, also Hampden torpedo-bomber, Beauflghter, and Lockheed Ventura Squadrons. New Zealanders form the larger proportion of the flying crews, though the ground crews are mainly English. In addition to these squadrons. New Zealanders are serving throughout the R.A.F., so that they can be found at practically every station, sometimes in ones or twos, and in others from .1 dozen Io 20.