NEW NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 14, 12 October 1942, Page 6

NEW NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON

American Bombers

STATION WITH RICH ASSOCIATIONS

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 11, 10 p.m.) LONDON, October 10.

The sixth New Zealand squadron to be formed in Britain is now finishing training. It is commanded by Wing Commander F. C. Seavill, Hamilton, and will fly American bombers and operate from a station recently vacated by the famous 75th (New Zealand) Wellington Bomber Squadron, which, after being based at this station since the beginning of the war, has now moved a few miles away. The station it* rich in New Zealand associations. Some hundreds of New Zealanders have bombed Germany and enemy occupied countries from it, and many have never returned. Some sleep in a nearby graveyard. Others have won decorations, including, Jimmy Ward, V.C. Though the 75th has moved the newcomers will carry on and enrich that tradition. The station commander is Group Captain 11. L. Kippenberger, Waimate, brother of Brigadier 11. K. Kippenberger, D.S.O. The other squadron on the station is Australian, so it is truly Anzac. Wing Commander Seavlll’s flight commanders are Squadron Leader Brian Wheeler, D.F.C., Marton, and Squadron Leader L. H. Trent, D.F.C., Nelson. The new squadron’s third D.F.C. is Pilot Officer G. W. Brewer, Papatoetoe, who won the decoration on his very first operation. The High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, visiting the squadron, met them all. In addition, there are the following New Zealand personnel:—Flight Lieutenant B. A. Reece, Christchurch, who is navigating officer; Pilot Officers G. A. Park, Dunedin, W. Gellatly, Nelson, T. J. Baynton, B. A. Ferri, T. Whyte, R. F. Edmonds, W. D. L. Goodfellow, Auckland, C. Baker, J. F. Greenstreet, J. D. Sharpe, T. L. B. Taylor, C. J. Baker, Wellington, G. W. Lee, B. W. Second, Christchurch, E. C. Armitage, Dunedin, A. Coutts, Whakatane, B. M. Weeds, J. D. Hamill, Invercargill, G. F. Whitwell, Tirau, B. S. McCallum, Opunake, 11. J. Street, New Plymouth. Members of ground crew: Corporals 11. E. Travers, Wanganui; C. E. Bush, Auckland, D. Macara, Gore; Aircraftman H. 11. Armstrong, Whakatane. Men’s Past Service.

Group Captain Kippenberger joined the R.A.F. in 1929 after working his way to England in a tramp steamer. He was given a short service commission and ultimately permanently commissioned. He was five years instructing before the war and also testing aircraft and took a staff college course. In March, 1940, he went to France with the advanced air striking force and finally left France after its fall with Air Marshal Playfair. After,returning to England, Group Captain Kippenberger alternated staff work with commanding a Wellington squadron when he carried out three raids.

Wing Commander Seavill joined the R.A.F. in 1930. Later he went to Aden for two years during the trouble with the Quetabis. He went to the Central Flying School on his return to England and then was in the Training Command headquarters till the outbreak of war when he was loaned to Canada in connexion with the British Commonwealth Air Training Scheme. He was appointed deputy director of organization at R.C.A.F. headquarters at Ottawa, where he stayed 27 months. Returning to England he carried out a refresher course with the Wellington bomber operational training unit. Laid Screen at Dieppe.

Squadron Leader Wheeler went to the Argentine in 1937 where he was ranching. He went to Canada in September, 1940, and there joined the R.C.A.F. After arriving in England he carried out nine daylight raids in Blenheims, sinking two ships, after which he transferred to Bostons, in which ha carried'out 20 daylight raids, including participation in the Dieppe raid, when he laid a smoke-screen over the beaches. He once flew over a German aerodrome in France and saw 150 Germans lined up for 8 a.m. parade. He turned on his four cannons and the Germans were knocked down like nine pins, after which he dropped two big bombs. He has the distinction of having participated in the first raid carried'out by Bostons over France, and also of chasing the Scharnhorst and Gnelsnau during their passage of the Channel. ’ . Squadron Leader Trent went to France the day before the .outbreak of war and flew Fairey Battles. He photographed'the Siegfried line twice and also carried out. photo reconnaissance deep inside Germany. He returned to England in December, 1931), and transferred to Blenheims, in which he made 14 raids, including the famous attack on the Maastricht Bridge when only six of the 12 Blenheims returned. Latqr he bombed Rotterdam aerodrome and helped cover the Dunkirk evacuation. Squadron Leader Trent is one of four left from the squadron’s eighteen original officers. He later became an officers’ training unit instructor and then control officer in a group headquarters operations room. Pilot Officer Brewer won the D.F.C. on his first operation when he attacked Dunkirk shipping. He.carried on and bombed the target despite the fact that he had been badly wounded'by flak iu oue thigh. He then landed safely in Britain despite weakness from loss of blood. After two months in hospital lie returned to duty in time to fly a Boston in the Dieppe raid. Pilot Officer Gellatly also laid a smoke screen during the Dieppe raid, which was. his first operation. He returned with bis rear gunner killed and the observer severely wounded, and crash-landed Ills badly damaged aircraft.

The majority of the other New Zealanders have previously laien posted to operational stations, but have carried <mc few raids. They represent about 50 .per cent, of tlie flying personnel. Tlie Olliers include English, Irish, Canadians and South Africans. Wing Commander Seavill's crew, for instance, are all Canadians. Wing Commander Seavill told Mr. Jordan: “All the boys are flat out types. There is. a grand spirit, in the squadron, and I know they will put up a good show when they got cracking.”