New Zealand Spitfires Fought in Dieppe Raid

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 209, 2 September 1942, Page 5

New Zealand Spitfires Fought in Dieppe Raid

FOXTON AND LEVIN AIRMEN CONSPICUOUS. (London Correspondent.) LONDON, Aug. 31. The New' Zealand Spitfire toquadron carried out four sweeps during the recent attacK on Dieppe, and shot down cwo nuns and prouabiy two more. Led by toquaoron-Leauer R. Grant, D.F.M., they were also accompanied by Wing-Commander P. G. Jameson, D.F.C. and bar. They took off for the flight at 2 a.m. return-ug periodically for reiueiimg and re-ammunitioning and snatching .lusty bits of food. Wing-Commander Jameson shot down one Hun in flames, while Pilot-Officer C. Ohrystali, Foxton, got anotner. rlightLieutenant R. Baker, Dunedin, and Piy-mg-Officer Linusay Black, Levin, got probables. During the fourth flignt, toquadron-Leader Grant, Flignt-Lieu-tenant Laker and Sergeant H. Deckle, Petone, all had combats but they were without result. Many members of the R.N.Z.N.V.R. also to on. part in the Dieppe raid, including Telegraphist R. N. Mitchell, Christchurch, and Petty-Oflicer Motor Mechanic D. Gillies, o&maru, who were among the crew of & motor launch. Telegraphist Mitchell said: W« arrived at Dieppe at 6 a.m. escorting a number of invasion barges carrying rrench-Can-adlans. It was just before dawn when we got there. We accompanied the barg-es towards the shore while a shore battery pumped shells at us. They landed behind us until our destroyers silenced the battery. “I got a good view of this. I was working two hours on and two hours off, and I was off at this period, so I stood on the deck. “As we sailed close inshore, the Huns fired anti-aircraft guns at us, but the flying splinters did not injure anyone on our ship. We put a smokescreen round the barges when they were nearly ashore. We swore when our engines packed up temporarily, but they were soon started again. “After landing the troops, we stood out offshore until 8 p.m., watching the destroyers bombarding the shore. We also saw several German aircraft shot down. Once three Hun bombers attempted to attack, but a destroyer shot ou the wing of one and directly hit another, while a topitlire accounted for the third. Another time, six Dornlers came out of the clouds intending to fix us, but inside two minutes topltfires had 6hot down four and the remaining two jettisoned their bombs and tore off. “We were among the last ships to leave. Our flotilla had an escort of at least 76 Spitfires over us for the whole of the return trip."