NO. 2 BOMBER CREWS

Evening Star, Issue 24331, 21 October 1942, Page 2

NO. 2 BOMBER CREWS

PARTICIPATE IN LE CREUIOT RAID (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.] LONDON, October 19. New Zealand* pilots were in live out of the six nrst Lancasters to bomb 1.0 LTeuzot armament works in the 94boinbor raid last week. New Zealand, navigators, bomb-aimers, and air-gun-ners also took part. They included Pilot-officers R. O. Calvert, 1). I.C. (Waikato). D. H. Palmer (Welling ton). A. H. Loader (Tailpipe), IL \V, Stewart (Whakataue), Flight-ser-geants V. S. Moore, D.F.M. (Tau« marunui), H. W. , Player (Petoue), Sergeants P. L. Singer and A. M. Singer (Gisborne, twins), J. L.\ Wily liams (Gisborne), R. Cosgrove (Auckland). J. W. Collbert (Te PuiaSprings), D. V. Davies (Raetihi). J. B. Price (Grey Lynn). R. Menzies (Hastings), and’ R. I). Pickford, (Rata). All agreed that the raid was “ a piece of cake.” They met only slight flak over the target, but. it stopped after the fust two bombers released iiioir bombs.

Flight-sergeant Player said “Wo had no exciting incident, in the whole trip. We prepared for the take-off shortly after mid-day, and soon picked up other sections. We then swept out over the coast, flying almost wing-tip to wing-tip. The weather was perfect, the only bad spot being over the sea when wo flew at Oft. We hedgehopped over most Of France, and climbed when nearing the target, and my heart sank when we sighted a thick cloud bank, as I thought it might upset the whole operation, hut luckily it cleared. I have never seen buildings disappear like they did when our bombs fell. They collapsed like a pack of cards It was better than any earthquake. • We sow little signs of l’G» Over France, only a few people working in the fields and a ploughman who threw himself flat when he heard the roar of the engines.* Others outside tho village waved and gave the V sign.” Sergeant Menzies- said “ The worst part of the trip was waiting for some-‘-hing which did not happen. It seemed impossible '•’*■! 1 the Germans would let us get away scot free.” F]rh(--sergeant Moore, who recently spent -16 hours at sea in a dingly* when forced down after the raid against Bremen said: “Le Cveuzot was the best show T have had. Jerry was conspicuous hv his absence.” Commenting on iV - ''yw Zealanders’ part the group captain said: “They are a - credit to the Dominion and to the men who trained them. We always look on the New Zealanders as the ’--Vbrvne of our bomber erews. They are grand -'’ans.”