MALTA VICTORIES

Evening Star, Issue 24326, 15 October 1942, Page 5

MALTA VICTORIES

K. R. PARK “THE MAN OF THE MOMENT” SUCCESS OF INTERCEPTION TACTICS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14. “ The man of the moment ” and “ The man behind the Malta victories ” are the descriptions given by the London newspapers to Air ViceMarshal Keith Rodney Park, of Dunedin, in commenting on and reporting the heavy losses sustained by the Germans/over Malta during the past week —lO6 lost or limping in 48 hours. Thus the ‘ Star ’: “ The man immediately behind Malta’s latest successes is Air Vice-Marshal Park, who, during the Battle of (Britain, played a big part in helping to save this country. In Malta’s defence he once again, by brilliant direction of his pilots, put into operation exactly the same tactics he used during the heavy daylight raids when, as air officer commanding No. 11 group, his squadrons bore the brunt on the south and south-east coast. Air Vice-Marshal Park’s plan of defence is early interception. He decided when Malta was supplied with Spitfires to s get the enemy bombers while they were still at sea, although they had only 70 : miles to come. It was obviously a sound theory, but the man who puts it into practice, needs to be a genius at organisation. The efficiency of the defensive organisation under Air ViceMarshal Park must be perfect and the timing of the Spitfires in the air almost miraculous.” The Air Ministry Middle East News Service describes a “ classic ” interception when Spitfires dived on enemy planes some 30 miles out to sea, shooting down over half. Not one was allowed to get anywhere near Malta. The Malta “massacre” has thrilled all Britain., At Buckingham Palace , the King awarded Distinguished Flying Medals to Flight-lieutenant J. P. Barrow (Gisborne), Pilot-officer C. A. Armstrong (Devonport), Warrant-officer O. W. Thompson (Waipiro Bay), also the Air Force Medal to Pilot-officer D. P. Phillips (Wellington). Mr Jordan congratulated them at the New Zealand Forces Club. Arm-; strong and Thompson both fought at Malta. They are now instructors. OVER 1,000 PLANES LATEST ATTACKS DRIVEN OFF (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 14. . A further outstanding success was scored by Malta’s defenders yesterday, when up to 3.30 p.m. our fighters had shot down 17 enemy aircraft and damaged many others for the loss of one Spitfire. A Cairo communique, recording this, adds: An additional enemy bomber was shot down over Malta the preceding night, while two more were destroyed in the battle area in Egypt and another over Sicily. We lost only three aircraft in all these operations, including Malta, where all the attacks were broken up before damage could be inflicted. Our land forces yesterday report only patrol activity. Our bombers and fighterbombers were active over the battle area, Daba and Tobruk. The seventeen Axis aircraft shot down over Malta yesterday make a total of 60 since the intensive raids were renewed on Saturday. One of the planes destroyed yesterday was the I,oooth shot down by the defences of Malta sinpe the war began. HESS’S CAPTIVITY WIFE WISHES TO JOIN HIM (Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14. Frau Hess wants to come to Britain, according to Mr Thorne, M.P., who is asking the Foreign Secretary what reply is being made to her request for permission to join her husband. Reports from Vichy recently said Frau Hess had asked the Red, Cross for permission to go to England.