FIRST "KILL"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 176, 28 July 1942, Page 5

FIRST "KILL"

N.Z. NIGHT FIGHTERS Mission Bay Pilot Brings Down New Dornier Special Correspondent. United Press Association.—Copyright Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, July 27. The New Zealand Hurricane night fighter squadron is claiming its first Nazi victim. It fell to Flight-Lieu-tenant Harvey Sweetman, of Mission Bay, and the machine crashed not far from the squadron's station. It was a Dornier 217, one of the latest German bombers. Flight-Lieutenant Sweetman's flight has one of its air screws in their hut as a souvenir. The squadron is awaiting official confirmation of the shooting down of the Nazi plane. The pilot was oparating with Havocs, and then left them to become a "lone wolf." He sighted the Hun, which fired at him. He saw the tracer bullets fly over his head, and he returned the fire. Then the Dornier banked to starboard and became silhouetted. Flight-Lieutenant Sweetman immediately gave a threesecond burst, after which the Hun went straight down.

The victory occurred on the night following the visit by Air Commodore L. M. Isitt, who stayed the night with the Hurricane squadron, and he also visited the New Zealand Spitfire squadron, which is near by. He chatted with all ranks and watched two squadrons competing in a local swimming competition, when the Hurricane pilots beat the Spitfire flyers and also won a relay race. Flight - Lieutenant Sweetman, Flight-Lieutenant J. Clouston, of Wellington, Pilot-Officer A. H. Smith, of Auckland, Sergeant R. J. Dall, of Hamilton, all swam well.

Air Commodore Isitt had a long talk with Wing-Commanders P. G. Jameson, D.F.C. and bar, and I. S. Smith, D.F.C. and bar. The former is operating over France shooting up railway locomotives, which nowadays is one of the Spitfire flyers' favourite pastimes. Wing-Comman-der Jameson led a group which shot up four that day.

Flight - Lieutenant Sweetman's achievement in shooting down the first Nazi is particularly popular, for he served as a sergeant in the Spitfire squadron, for which he shot down two Huns.