New Zealanders Keeping up the Tradition

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 205, 28 August 1942, Page 5

New Zealanders Keeping up the Tradition

(Official War Correspondent.) Received Thursday, 8 p.m. WESTERN DESERT, Aug. IS. By shojting down In flames a Junkers 88 night raider over the Middle East battle area last night, a New Zealand pilot brought his own score of enemy aircraft destroyed to seven. This brings his squadron’s score to 28« destroyed. Including 163 in the Middle East. This is the squadron with which . lying-officer E. R. Kain fought in France. Tlie New Zealander who snot down the junkers 88 is Warrant-Officer E. L. Joyce, D.F.M., of Hamilton, one of the three New Zealanders at present In the squadron. Joyce is almost the exact opposite of 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’ 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. Last night he saw a Junkers—a reconnaissance plane which was believed to be photographing back areas—from a distance of two miles. Joyce dived on the Germans and fired a burst into them. There was a terrific flash and the Junkers exploded in the air. In an earlier day operation over the Alameln line, Joyce’s squadron intercepted a formation of Stukas. Hurricanes had just begun an attack when 12 Messerschmitt 109*8 appeared. While others of the squadron attacked the Stukas, Joyce’s flight stayed above. Joyce followed a Messerschmitt and destroyed it with a twosecond 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 snot down In flames by Joyce’s 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. Joyce, whose brother. Private Arthur Joyce, is serving with the Auckland battalion, New Zealand Division, joined the R.A.F. three years after he left h|lgh school. He flew with fighter squadrons in England before coming to the Middle East about 16 months ago. His score includes tw) Junkers 88’s, two Messerschmitt 109’s and two CR 40’s, all within the last four months. The C.R.’s 40’s he chased over the front line and shot down when they were at sero feet. The other New Zealander In the squadron Ls 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 who ls still with the squadron played fullback in the football team In which Kain was a wing three-quarter.