YOUNGEST STATION COMMANDER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 10, 7 October 1943, Page 5

YOUNGEST STATION COMMANDER

N.Z. Airman’s Great Record (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.), (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, October 5. The New Zealand Beaufighter Squadron is now operating from a station commanded by an outstanding New Zealander who is 'the youngest station commander in the Fighter Command. He is a 30-year-old Dunedinite, Wing Commander R. F. Aitken, A.F.C., whose nickname is Aitken joined the R.A.F. in 1936, and in July, 1937, was loaned to the Fleet Air Arm. He served in the Courageous, Furious and Ark Royal, and was then appointed an instructor on catapult aircraft to the Royal Navy. He was selected to fly with the second flight of ellingtons to New Zealand and -began training a week before the outbreak of war, but when war was declared he returned to his work with the Royal Navy. . Subsequently he became personal assistant to the Air Officer Commanding No. 17. Group in the Coastal Command. He took part in the Norwegian campaign’and was one of three pilots, who ferried Hurricanes from the Ark Royal to an aerodrome near Trondheim. After? every flight pilots were picked up by Swordfish and flown back to the Ark Royal, where another Hurricane was waiting for them. Aitken ferried I—Hurricanes in this way. While returning to England the-Ark Royal was bombed and when the famous aircraft-carrier heeled the jvash from the bomb took Aitken overboard, but he was soon picked up. Air-Sea Rescue Work. He was responsible for starting the all-important Air-Sea Rescue Organization, and during the Battle of Britain his flight picked up between 60 and to pilots —dead and alive, British and German—from -the English Channel. In those early stages he was flying a Walrus. He would be waiting off the Isle of Wight for the battle to begin, while about a quarter of . a mile away the Germans would wait in a Heinkel 59. They established a “liaison.” and when aircraft over them were shot down they would take off to the rescue “like a couple of ducks swooping over a pond for bread, as Aitken described it, While he may not have spectacular decorations, he has undoubtedly done most valuable work, lie told the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, who recently visited the New Zealand Squadron, that lie was delighted- to have the New Zealanders with him. , „ „ Air Vice-Marshal H. W. L. Saunders, who happened to be visiting the station at the same time as Mr. Jordan, told the High Commissioner that the squadron had shot down two Germans recently. He added: "They are going to do very well. They are going to pay dividends —providing the Hun does his part oblig~ ingly and comes over here so they can attack him.” . . , In September, 1940, Aitken joined No. 3 Squadron as a flight lieutenant, and then commanded the same squadron from December, 1940, to May, 1942. During that time he flid two operational tours, in one flying long-range Hurricanes. He went on intruder patrols and attacks on shipping and also escorting day bombers. Developmental Work. During that period, Aitken was again responsible for developmental work, this time with long-range . night intruders, which shot down German bombers while they were landing • at aerodromes in France, after bombing England. One ot his pupils is now a wing commander — D. J. Scott, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Bar Aitken was the first man to shoot down a German bomber at night with a fourcannon Hurricane. It was a Junkers 88. He got it at 21,000 ft during a heavy raid against London on May 10, 1941. He completed 1000 hours on Hurricanes, nearly half of them on operations, and then, in May, 1942, he was appointed staff officer in charge of night operations during the “Baedeker” raids when the Luftwaffe selected cathedrals as targets. Aitken . was rcspQJisible to his Air Officer Commanding for the defence during all those raids. In September. 1942, when he was only 29, he became the youngest station commander in the Fighter Command, a distinction which he still holds. After commanding one station for a short period he was appointed by Air Vice-Marshal Saunders to an important station which has been used by famous night fighter squadrons. _ Aitken was awarded the A.F.v. for his developmental e pioneer work, while lie was three times mentioned in dispatches, first for his air-sea rescue work, secondly for developing a single-engined night fighter, and thirdly for his work during the “Baedeker” raids.