DESERT SUCCESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20874, 28 August 1942, Page 3

DESERT SUCCESS

N.Z. AIRMEN JUNKERS SHOT DOWN SQUADRON’S RECORD (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) (9 a.m.) WESTERN DESERT, Aug. 27. The New Zealander in “Cobber” Kain’s old squadron who shot down a Junkers 88 behind the Alamein line on Monday night is Warrant Officer E. L. Joyce, D.F.M., of Hamilton, one of three New Zealanders at present in the squadron. Warrant Officer Joyce is almost the exact opposite of “Cobber” Kain in stature and nature. Known among the desert pilots and in his home town as “Nipper,” he is thin and stands scarcely higher than the cannons on his plane. As with most New Zealand pilots, he says little about his successes in almost 300 hours of flying above Egypt and Libya. The quality which amazes his fellow pilots and the one which has made him one of the Middle East’s most successful night fighter pilots, is his uncanny eyesight. On Monday night he saw the Junkers —a reconnaissance plane believed to be photographing the back areas —from a distance of two miles. Warrant Officer Joyce dived on the Germans and fired a burst into them. There was a terrific flash and the Junkers exploded in the air. Stukas Intercepted On an earlier day operation over the Alamein line, Warrant Officer Joyce’s squadron intercepted a formation of Stukas. Hurricanes had just begun to attack when 12 Messerschmitt 109’s appeared. While others of the squadron attacked the Stukas, Warrant Officer Joyce’s flight stayed as cover. Warrant Officer Joyce followed a Messerschmitt and destroyed it with a two-seconds burst into the cockpit. He damaged a second one with shots into the wings. While he was attacking the first enemy fighter, a Messerschmitt which was diving on him was shot down in flames by his No. 2 pilot. In the same engagement another New Zealander in the squadron, Sergeant A. S. Wilson, of Mid-Canterbury, shot a Stuka down in flames. The squadron’s total for the fight was six destroyed, six probables, and eight damaged. Warrant Officer Joyce, whose brother; Private Arthur Joyce, is serving with an Auckland battalion in the New Zealand Division, joined the Royal Air Force three years after he left high school. He flew with fighter squadrons in England before coming to the Middle East about 16 months ago. His score includes two Junkers 88’s, two Messerschmitt 109’5,. and two CR. 40’s, all within the last four months. The C.R. 42’s he chased over the front line and shot down when they were at zero feet. The other New Zealander in the squadron is Warrant Officer R. L. Baker, of Wellington, who joined the squadron at the end of last year. . He has a score of two certainties. “Cobber” Kain’s respirator and scarves made from his parachute are treasured possessions of the squadron. Until recently there were many men in the ground staff who knew him during his adventures in France One sergeant still with the squadron played fullback in a football team in which Kain was wing-three-quarter.