PART IN DIEPPE RAID

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 287, 2 September 1942, Page 5

PART IN DIEPPE RAID

New Zealand Airmen And

Seamen

(By Telegraph.—Press Assu. —Copyright.)

(Special Correspondent.)

(Received September 1, 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 31

The New Zealand Spitfire Squadron carried out four sweeps during the recent attack against Dieppe and shot down two Huns for certain and probably two more. l , Led by Squadron Leader R. R. Grant, D.F.M., they were also accompanied by Wing Commander P. G. Jameson, D.F.C., and bar. They took off for the first flight at 2 a.m., returning 'periodically to refuel and replenish their ammunition aud to snatch hasty bites of food. Jameson shot, down one Hun in Hames and Pilot Officer C. Ohrystall, Foxton, got another. Flight Lieutenant It. Baker, Dunedin, and Flying Officer Lindsay Black, Levin, got probables.

During the fourth flight, Grant, Baker, and Sergetint 11. Leekie, Petone, all had. cojnbatg. but without result.

R.N.Z.N.V.R. In Action,

Many members of the R.N.Z.N.V.R.' also took part in the- Dieppe raid, including Telegraphist R. N. Mitchell, Christchurch, and Petty Officer Motor Mechanic D. Gillies, Oamaru, who were among the crew in a motor launch. Mitchell said: “We arrived at Dieppe at 5 a.m. escorting a number of invasion barges carry-, ing Freneh-Canadians. It was just 'before dawn when we got there. We accompanied the barges to the shore while a shore battery pumped shells at us.' They landed behind us till our deni royers silenced the battery. “1 got a good view of this, as I was working two hours on and two off, and I was off during this period, so I stood on deck. As we closed inshore, Hie Huns fired anti-aircraft shells at us, but the Hying splinters did not injure anyone on our ship. We put a smokescreen round the barges when they were nearly ashore. We swore when our engines packed up temporarily, but they soon restarted. "After lauding the troops, we stood out off-shore till 3 p.m., watching the destroyers bombarding. We also saw several German aircraft shot down. Once three Hun bombers attempted to attack, but a destroyer shot off the wing from one and scored a direct hit on another and a .Spitfire accounted for the third. Another time, six Dorniers came from the clouds intending to fix us. but inside of two minutes Spitfires had shot down four and the remaining two jettisoned their bombs and tore off. We were among the last ships to leave and our flotilla, had an escort of at least 76 Spitfires above for the whole of the return trip.