A BITTER AIR RAID

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 21, 5 November 1943, Page 3

A BITTER AIR RAID

BATTLE OVER HOLLAND NEWS OF PILOT OFFICER 'ANDY' COUTTS The June issue of the N.Z.E.F. Times gives an interesting account of the great raidi on a special target in Holland from, which Pilot Officer Andrew Coutts, of Whakaitane, was reported missing. Only one of the eleven aircraft participating returned but there seems to be good reason for supposing that the missing men are safe either as prisoners of war or in hiding with the friendly Dutch populace. The report reads:— " One of the most gallant actions' In recent air fighting was that of the New Zealand Ventura Squadron. It was carried out at the heaviest loss, only one of 11 aircraft returning. lits crew all Englishmen, won immediate awards of the DFC and DFM. The squadron Avas detailed to attack a special target in Holland. The crews did not know until the last moment where they Avere going and held a sweepstake lor the nearest guess. They knew it Avould he a 'sticky' job, and so it proved. Led. b3 r Squadron-Leader L. H. Trent DFC. of Nelson) the squadron ran into a heary concentration of Foc'ke "Wulfs 190, which outnumbered; the' Spitfire escort. One by one the Venturas Avere picked off, or damaged, then as they straggled, were .re-attacked. But the target Avas bombed and Trent, ac-t companied by aircraft piloted by F/O S. B. Peryman, of Ghristchurch, and P/O's T. L. B. Taylon Wellington. and T. J. Baynton, Auckland, was last seen Hying straight and leA'el, despite flak,, for the target. Of 40 crew members in the last planes, at least 14. Avere seen baling out while 1 it is hoped, that others managed to force land. Had it not been for a. scribbled message to the captain of the remaining aircraft it, too, Avould not liaA'c returned. But the message told the captain Flight-Lieut. A. V. Duffill of Yorkshire, that Sergeant A. W. Turnbull. of London, was wounded,, Avhereupon he decided to attempt to reach England instead of finding a field in Holland. Bomb Doors Jammed Whi'.e nearing the target, Diffill's aircraft Avas hit by explosive cannon shells, Avhich shot aAvay the hydraulics AA r ith the result, that the bomb doors Avould not open property and the bombs could not be rdleased. Duffill had no other option tut to turn away, but not before his gunner, Sergeant L. H. Neili of Devon, had shot down a Focke"Wulf attacking Squadron-Leader Trent. shells set fire to Duffill ? s aircraft and the inter-com-munication system AA'as rendered useless 1 . Turnbull Avas bally Avounded in the arms and legs and it was not until F/O F. J. Starkie, of Lancashire handed Duffill a note that he learned, of his injuries. Neill Avas also Avounded in the thighs, ribs and arm, having been blown out from the turret, but he attempted to put out the fire Avith an extinguisher. Starkie gaA'e Turnbull morphia, applied two tourniquet;) and pulled him into a more comfortable position. All the Avay back over the North Sea lighters continued to attack but Duffill managed to evade them Avhile his observer, Starkie, attempted, to poke off the bombs from the racks. There was a pool of blood on the Jloor of the aircraft which the Avind caught when the trapdoor Avas opened in an attempt to dislodge the bombs 5 . A gust of Avind covered Starkie Avith blood, so that he resembled a Re.l .Indian, but he managed tc push off three of the bombs. Many Missing New Zealanders in the raid avlk are now reported missing, in addi tion to those mentioned, Avere:— F/O's S. McGowan (Hatings), O. E Foster (North Canterbury), P/O A Coutts (Whakatane): P/O T. A Penn (Ghristchurch). Flight/Scr geant W. Sharp (Wellington). Ser geants G. R. Smith (Miller's Flat) J. F. Ulrlch (Havvera), T. W. J "Warner (Motueka),, W. L. Goodfel low and F/O S. Coshall, whos mother live.s in Auckland. These heavy losses occurred oi lhe squadron's 27th raid, in all o which the squadron had lost onl; four crews. It Avas a heaA'y blow. The raid Avas an example of th highest devotion to </.uty and tear iip.rit.. Trent ana DuO'ill had Avork in next coiuinn)

Ed out a plan of action before, the raid, deciding thai if attacked, the squadron would carry on regardless of this. It did, and not one Ventura faltered, but all followed Trent unwaveringly. Trent must have realised when near the target that there was little hope of survival, but he never hesitated —he carried straight on and bombed. Trent's loss grieved the .squadron for he was regarded, as a tine leader —coolheaded and Experienced. The squadron said they would follow him anywhere—and proved as goof their word. Dufl'ill highly praised his crew Neil) to'.d Dull'ill after landing: "Gee fir, all I 1 can say is 1 feed full l , ol holes."' And Turnbull .said: "Ab blood group is D." » A fortnight later the squadroi raided Zcebrugge and encountered inaccurate llak and no lighters. I was a raid without incident ant carried out without, loss. The squad roll's morale is as high as ever. 1 has been reformed and brought u] to strength new members including P/O's F. Scott (Inglewood), and A Mackay and J. 1). .McMillan (Auck land), Sergeants M. K. F. Barihai ) (Waiuku), E. W. Toohey (Iloki tika), K. A. Smith (Pahiatua), *R 1 G. Gollender It. G. C. Payne an f M J. Gornish (Christchurch), T. S / Kelly (Wellington). M. G. JeH'erle and L. Thompson (Auckland), T. Y Aitken (Dunedin), A. J. Iledma (Taihape), E. J. House (Dargaville 1 J. T. Hyndeman and P. M. Olive (Morrinsvill-e) and F. E. Wa.kc (Okaihau).