TOOK PART IN RECENT RAIDS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 16, 14 October 1942, Page 6

TOOK PART IN RECENT RAIDS

N.Z. Bomber Squadron FEW CASUALTIES SINCE HAMBURG

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) (Received October 13, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 12.

The New Zealand Bomber Squadron has taken part in the recent raids on Osnabruck, Aachen, Kassel and Krefeld. Its casualties have been few since the raid, on Hamburg, when they were fairly heavy.

The New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, visiting the squadron, learnt that German night fighters are providing increasing opposition, but Flight Sergeant It. C. Reynolds, Lower Hutt, and Sergeant Bruce Philip, Amberley, have each shot down a Junkers 88. Flight Sergeant K. A. Crawshaw, Greymouth, and Sergeant B. Neal, North Auckland, are among New Zealanders who ■ have taken a “bang” at the night fighters. Reynolds, who is a front gunner, said: “We were returning from a raid over the North Sea at 4000 feet when I saw tracers 'behind and below and then, picked out a Junkers apparently attacking another aircraft near us. The German passed in front of my turret, and I fired a good burst, after which he'went, down in flames.”

Philip, who is a rear gunner, said: “On the Bremen 1000-bomber raid, when there was bright moonlight and the Northern Lights, I spotted a Junkers coming out of the Northern Lights. I told the pilot to dive to port into a dark patch, bringing us below the Junkers, who was in the moonlight. I opened up when he was 200 yards away and he returned my fire with two cannons and four machine-guns. After 1 had fired 1000 rounds we fell away on the starboard wing and I saw him silhouetted in the moonlight with his port engine on fire. Later I learnt that an Australian pilot officer saw him crash.” Reynolds is in an all-New Zealand crew which completed its operational tour. The others were Flight Sergeants J. L. Wright, Hamilton, C. AV. B. Kelly, Christchurch, M. A. Carter, Hastings, and A. L. O. Neal. They had painted on their Wellington a grinning Donald Duck coming out of an eggshell. Philip is# in a erew with Sergeants W. Gordon, Kaiapoi, and A. Drew, Auckland ; they have also, finished operations, as have Sergeants 11. V. Allen, Christchurch, Flight Sergeant K. Sutherland, Invercargill, Pilot Officers E. A. Letebford, Picton, and L. Chambers, Westport. The squadron’s present. ‘ oldest inhabitant” is Pilot Officer AV. G. Horne, Masterton, who has nearly completed his operations. Escape Over Duisberg.

Recent newcomers include Pilot Officer G. H. Jacobspn, Akaroa, who has carried out nine raids. He was shot up over Duisberg on his third raid when held by a searchlight for half an hour. Another time his aircraft was severely damaged when it flew over the Dutch coast in daylight, but he returned safely. Another all-New Zealand cfevr comprised Pilot Officers L. G. Trott, Otorohanga, AV. J. R. Scollay, Wellington, D. L. Popperwell, Gore, Sergeants M. Manawa iti, Taranaki, and 11. Hamel’ton. New Plymouth. They have completed half their operational tour. During tie recent heavy raid over Bremen, Trott levelled out his aircraft preparatory to bombing and photographing when flak rocked the Wellington, surrounding it with cordite smoke. They bombed and then dived to port at more than 400 miles an hour, both engines cutting out when Trott pulled out of the dive, the aileron trimming tabs jammed, making the aircraft almost uncontrollable, but he managed by 'holding the stick right over to keep it under control. Others at present with the squadron inelude Flying Officer F. J. Chunn, le Awamutu, Pilot Officers E. I'. Downes, Dunedin, E. L. Haydon, Palmerston North C. F. Ormerod, Gisborne., bergeants C.. R. Davey, Dargaville, E. G. Firth, E. Worsdale, 11. R. Welch, A. Scott, M. T. Parata, J. S. Voice. V. A. O. Dimock, K. 11. Yeoman, E. A. Gnrty, I C. 11. Sullivan, all Wellington, 11. J. Hugill E. IV. Harvey, D. Wellington, R. 11. J. Broady. B. A. Franklin, R. L. A. McFarland, D. Clearwater, E. L. D. Ashwin', all Auckland, J. G. Barnes, J. A. McConnell, AV. J. Barclay, all Dunedin, L J. Shalfoon, L. H. Parkinson, both Opotiki, V. Watters. Whangarei, R. J. Carter, Taumarunui, F. -AV. Marshall, Tauranga. AV. J. H. Berriman, New Plymouth, AV. A. N. Hardy, Wanganui, 11. R. Manerton, Patea. '. ‘ Mr. Jordan also visited Ely Hospital, where there are several New Zealanders.