THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 23, 2 March 1942, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

LIBYAN AIR FORCE

i WINGS OVER THE ARMY MIXED PLANE CREWS (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service). CAIRO, Jan. 1. While New Zealanders of the Expeditionary Force were fighting their way forward across the Libyan desert, New Zealanders in bombers and fighters high above were winging their courses across the sky. .bringing destruction to enemy

troops, transports and armoured units. It was, of course, no new occurrence. During the battle lor Crete, Dominion airmen carried out daring raids on Maleme aerodrome in support of the dogged resistance being made by their compatriots below. But, just as the *iir campaign of tlie .second Libyan push was on a scale that almost completely reversed the striking power, as compared with Crete, so was the number of New Zealand airmen engaged in offensive operations very greatly 'increased. With (lyers from every part of the Empire they were able, right from the opening day of the campaign, to lend that aid to the ground forces which the Gcr-

mans liave learned to tlicir cost is by 110 means the sole* right of the Luftwaffe. The New Zealand land forces completed their tasks and were withdrawn, but New Zealand airmen are still going.

These New Zealanders are not grouped in squadrons. They are scattered throughout the Middle East Command in ones, twos and threes. In one squadron alone, almost everj* part of tlie Empire may be represented; and ether countries besides. Thus, in the bomber to which a sergeant-pilot from Dunedin belongs, the second pilot is a Rhodcsian, the navigator an Australian, the wireless operator also an Australian, the front gunner a t Canadian and the rear gunner is from the Argentine. The New Zealander had, during the Libyan campaign, been engaged in a special task that made him the spectator ol many an exciting tank battle. The beginning of the push saw him over Fort Capuzzo. From there he followed the tanks right through—to Sidi Rezegh and El Adem. The task he had to perform necessitated his plane playing a lone hand. Even so, only once was he is particular danger of being shot down. That was when eight J ta'ian fighters soared up towards him. "It was an anxious moment, but luckily for mo they suddenly changed direction and disappeared into a eloudbank."

Before coming to the Middle East, the Duncdin fiver had been in England and had taken part, in no less than 29 raids over tno continent, mostly over Germany. These in-. Glided raids on Essen, Mannheim nnd Stettin. It was often hard to see results, but judging from 'explosions and photographic records they were generally good. When in England his navigator had been an American, who had accompanied him on .most of his trips over occupied Europe. The New Zealander flew his own p'anc from England' to the Middle East and counts the journey as his most interesting, yet.