SIXTH N.Z. SQUADRON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 3

SIXTH N.Z. SQUADRON

WILL FLY AMERICAN BOMBERS STATION HAS RICH ASSOCIATIONS London, Oct. 10. The sixth New Zealand squadron to be formed in Britain is now finishing training, it is commanded by Wing-Commander F. C. Seavill, Hamilton, and will fly Americaii bombers and operate from a station recently vacated by the famous 75th. (New Zealand) Wellington Bomber Squadron, which, after being based at this station since the beginning of the war, has now moved a few miles away. The station is rich in New Zealand associations. Some hundreds of New Zealanders have bombed Germany and enemy-occupied countries from it, and many have never returned, j Some sleep in a nearby graveyard. Others have won decorations, includ--1 ing Jimmy Ward, V.C. Though the. ' 75th. has moved the newcomers will j carry on and enrich that tradition. - The station commander is Group- | Captain R. L. Kippenberger, WaiI mate, brother of Brigadier H. K. Kippenberger, D.S.O. The other squadron on the station is Australian, so it is truly Anzac. Wing-Commander Seavill’s flight commanders are Squad-ron-Leader Brian Wheeler, D.F.C.. Marton, and Squadron-Leader L. H. Trent, D F.C., Nelson. The new squadron’s third D.F.C. is Pilot-Officer G. W. Brewer, Papatoetoe, who won the decoration on his very first operation. The High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, visiting rhe squadron, met them alt. In addition, there are the foilowing I New Zealand personnel: Flight-Lieu-I tenant R. A. Reece, Christchurch, who is navigating officer; Pilot-Officers G A. Park, Dunedin, W. Gallatly, Nelson, T. J. Baynton, R. A. Ferri, T. Whyte, R. F. Edmonds, W. D. L. Goodfellow, Auckland, C. Baker, J. F. / Greenstreet, J. D. Sharpe, T. L. B. j Taylor, C. J. Baker, Wellington, G. W. I Leu, R. W. Second, Christchurch, E IC. Armitage, Dunedin, A. Coutts, ; Whakatane, B. M. Weeds, J. D. Hamill. Invercargill, G. F. Whitwell, Tirau, B. S. McCallum, Opunake, R. J. Street, New Plymouth. Members of ground crew: Corporals R. E. Travers, Wanganui; C. E. Bush, Auckland, D. Macara, Gore; Aircraftman H. H. Armstrong, Whakatane. Men’s Past Service Group-Captain Kippenberger joined the R.A.F. in 1929 after working his way to England in a tramp steamer. He was given a short-service commission and ultimately permanently commissioned. He was five years instructing before the war and also testing aircraft and took a staff college course. In March, 1940, he went to France with the advanced air striking force and finally left France after its fall with Air-Marshal Playfait. After returning to England, GroupCaptain Kippenberger alternated staff work with commanding a Wellington squadron when he carried out three raids. Wing-Commander Seavill joined the R.A.F. in 1930. Later he went to Aden for two years during the trouble with the Quetabis. He went to the Central Flying School on his return to England and then was in the Training Command headquarters till the outbreak of war when he was loaned lo Canada in connection with the British Commonwealth Air Training Scheme. He was appointed deputydirector of organisation at R..CA.F. headquarters at Ottawa, where he stayed 27 months. Returning to England he carried out a refresher course with the Wellington bombei operational training unit. Laid Screen at Dieppe Squadron-Leader Wheeler went io the Argentine in 1937 where ho was ranching, lie went Io Canada in Sep u iember, 194 U, and there joined the R.C.A F. After arriving in England he carried out nine daylight raids in Blenheims, sinking two ships, after which he transferred to Bostons, in which he carried out 20 daylight raids, including participation in the Dieppe raid, when he laid a smoke-screen over the beaches. He once flew over ' a German aerodrome in France and saw 150 Germans lined up for 8 a.m. parade. He turned on his four cannons and the Germans were knocked down like nine pins, after which he dropped two big bombs. He has the distinction of having participated in the first raid carried out by Bostons over France, and also of chasing the Scharnhorst and Gneisau during their passage of the Channel. Squadron-Leader Trent went to France the day before the outbreak photographed the Siegfried Line of war and flew in Fairey battles. He twice and also carried out photo reconnaissance deep inside Germany. He returned to England in December, 1939, and transferred to Blenheims, in which he made 14 raids, including the famous attack on the Maastricht Bridge when only six of the 12 Blenheims returned. Later he bombed Rotterdam aerodrome and helped cover the Dunkirk evacuation. Squad-ron-Leader Trent is one of lour ieft from the squadron’s eighteen oiiginaJ officers. He later became an officers training unit instructor and th°n control officer in a group headquarters operations room. Pilot-Officer Brewer won the D.F.C. on his first operation when he attacked Dunkirk shipping. He carried on and bombed the target despite the fact that he had been badly wounded

by flak in one thigh. He then landed safely in Britain despite weakness from loss of blood. After two months in hospital he returned to duty in time to fly a Boston in the Dieppe raid. Pilot-Officer Gellatly also laid a smoke-screen during the Dieppe raid, which was his first operation. He returned with his rear gunner killed and the observer severely wounded, and crash landed his badly damaged aircraft. The majority of the other New Zealanders have previously been posted to operational stations, but have carried out few raids. They represent about 50 per cent, of the flying personnel. The others include English, Irish, Canadians and South Africans. Wing-Commander Sea-, ill’s crew, for instance, are all Canadians. Wing-Commander Seavill told Mr. Jordan: “All the boys are flat out types. There is a grand spirit in the squadron, and I know they will put up a good show when they get cracknig.”