NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 307, 30 December 1942, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (Recd. 10.30 p.m.) London, Dec. 28. A New Zealand torpedo-bomber squadron flying Hampdens completes the year with the good record of sinking eight German ships off the coast of Norway. Flying-Officer J. J. Richardson, of Auckland, accounted for one and shared another. Flying-Officer C. J. Freshney of Auckland, sank one Warrant-Officer R. C. Dunn, of Kaiapoi, sank a third. A Scottish pilot sank two with Pilot-Officer F N. Shallcross. of Greymouth. and Sergeant H. R. F. Smith, of Tainape, in his crew. Two English pilots also got two and shared another, the crews including Sergeants E. A. Hurley, of New Ply mouth, and K. Moore, of Christchurcu and also W. Thompson. The squadron recently flew out nearly ai wave-top height seeking ships near Trondheim. Warrant-Offi-cer Dunn said. "The weather was vile and terriblv bumr -. We could see waves at least 30ft. high. "We saw the ships eventually hugging high cliffs. The squadron-leader ordered Flying-Officer D. J. Nillson, of Hastings, and me to break formation and follow him for an attack. We

encountered four protecting flakships which shot at us. but Flving-Oflicer Nillson reported seeing my torpedo strike home. I had to turn sharply to avoid flying into the cliffs, and that when the flak connected wi h us. plastering the fuselage, breaking th--camera and surrounding Hurley, but he was not hurt. The flight lasted seven hours. Freshney had the distinction of torpedoing a shin by moonlight. It was a 2000-tonner. Our other successes were all in daylight." The squadron has recently been carrying out patrols over the sea in unnleasant weather, encountering fog and icing-up conditions.