LATEST FIGHTERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20917, 17 October 1942, Page 3

LATEST FIGHTERS

N.Z. PILOTS’ PLANES PART IN BIG SWEEP (Special Correspondent.) (9 a.m.) . . LONDON,VOct. J 5. The New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, the Air Secretary, Mr. T. A. Barrow, and Air Commodore L. M. Isitt visited a squadron which formerly flew Hurricane night fighters and which had recently moved to a station now flying the latest type of fighter on daylight patrols. The visitors went to the dispersal huts and saw pilots returning from uneventful south coast patrols. They stood chatting in the sunshine and learned that the squadron participated in last week’s big fighter-bomber sweep, when the Americans claimed over 40 Germans. The New Zealanders’ role was to carry out a diversion sweep over Le Havre. The visitors heard from Pilot Officer G. G. Thomas and Sergeant K. TaylorCannon how they recently sighted two Focke-Wulfs 190’s while on patrol, One Focke-Wulf had just dropped a bomb in a sneak raid when the New Zealanders appeared. There was a low cloud base, for which the Germans made off, but Pilot Officer ...umas opened up fire at 800 yd. range closing to 400yds. before the enemy entered the clouds. The squadron will probably be returning to night fighting shortly, although thtey personally remain day fighters. The squadron’s pilots at present include Squadron Leader C. L C Roberts, Flight-Lieutenants J. G. Clouston, H. N. Sweetmen, PilotOfficers A. E. Umberu, V. C. Fittall, A H. Smith, L. V. Weir, I. D. Waddy, R. J. Dali, and J. H. McCaw, Warrant Officer J. G. Wilson, Flight Sergeants J. Pearse, W. B. Tyerman,- C. N. Gall, F. Murphy, and N. E. Preston, Sergeants B. Fitzgibbon, A. H. Sames, R. Walker, D. B. Clark, M. O. Jorgensen, W. K. Mawson, R. W. Penny, I. B. Matheson, D. Macalister and D. Bennett. The ground crew includes Corporals R. K. Bartlett, N. S. Parkes, D. Ramsay, L.A.C.S.' M. J. Hallett and MacKinnon, and Aircraftman I. G. Goward.