BOMBING CREWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 14 October 1942, Page 3

BOMBING CREWS

N.Z. SQUADRON IN BRITAIN FEW CASUALTIES SINCE HAMBURG RAID MR JORDAN PAYS VISIT London, Oct. 12. ! The New Zealand High Commission- j er in England, Mr W. Jordan, on a visit ; to a New Zealand Bomber Squadron,! was told that its casualties had been few since the raid on Hamburg, when they were fairly heavy. Mr Jordan . learned that German night fighters ; were providing increasing opposition, but Flight Sergeant R. C. Reynolds. (Lower Hutt) and Sergeant Bruce Phi-j lip (Amberley) each shot down a Junkers 88. while Flight Sergeant K. A. Crankshaw (Greymouth) and Sergeant B. Neal (North Auckland) are among; the New Zealanders who have taken a “bang”at night lighters. Flight-Sergeant Reynolds, who is a , front gunner, said: “We were returning from a raid and were 4000 feet over the North Sea when I saw tracers behind and below. I then picked out a Junkers, apparently attacking another aircraft near us. The German passed in J front of my turret and I fired a good 1 burst, after which he went down in flames.” Sergeant Philip, who is a rear gunner, said: “On the Bremen 1000-bomber raid, when there was bright moonlight ; and northern lights, I spotted a Junkers coming out from the northern j lights. I told the pilot to dive to port i into a dark patch, bringing us below I the Junkers who was in the moonlight. ! I opened up when he was 200 yards ; j away and he returned the fire with two : ' cannons and four machine-guns. After j I had fired 1000 rounds, we fell away on the starboard wing, and I saw him silhouetted in the moonlight with his port engine on fire. Later we learned that j an Australian pilot officer saw him crash.” Flight-Sergeant Reynolds was in an all New Zealand crew which completed their operational tour. Others were Flight Sergeants J. L. Wright (Hamilton*. C. W. B. Kelly (Christchurch). M. A. Carter (Hastings) and A. L. O. Neal. They had painted on their Wellington a grinning Donald Duck coming out of an eggshell. Sergeant Philip was in a crew with Sergeant W. Gordon (Kaiapoi). and A. Drew (Auckland). They have also finished operations as have Sergeant H. V. Allen (Christchurch). Flight Sergeant K. Sutherland (Invercargill!. Pilot Officers E. A. Letchford (Picton), and L. Chambers (Westport). The squadron’s present “oldest inhabitant” is Pilot Officer W. G. Horne (Masterton), who has nearly completed operations. RECK XT X L\V COMERS Recent newcomers include Pilot Officer G. H. Jacobson (Awaroa), who has carried out nine raids. He was shot up over Duisberg on his third raid, when he was held in searchlights for half an hour. The aircraft was severely damaged. It flew over the Dutch coast in daylight, but returned safely. Another all New Zealand crew is comprised of Pilot Officers L. G. Trott (Otorohanga), W. J. R. Scollay (Wellington i, D. L. Poppelwell (Gore), Sergeants M. Manawaiti tTimaru). and H. Hamerton of New Plymouth. They have completed half an operational l tour. During the recent heavy raid over Bremen, Pilot Officer Trott levelled out his aircraft preparatory to bombing and photographing, when flak rocked the Wellington, surrounding it with cordite smoke. They bombed and then dived to port at over 400 miles an hour Both engines were cutting when Trott pulled out of the dive. The aileron trimming tabs jammed, making the aircraft almost uncontrollable, but he managed by holding the stick right over, otherwise the aircraft showed a tendency to slow roll. Others at present with the squadron include Flying Officer.F. J. Chunn (Te rtwamutu), Pilot Officers E. F. Downes (Dunedin), E. L. Haydon (Palmerston North), C. F. Ormerod (Gisborne), Sergeants C. R. Davey < Dargaville >. E. G. Firth. E. Worsdalc, H. R. Welch, A. Scott, M. T. Parata, J. S. Voice, V. A. ; O. Dimock, K. H. Yeoman, E. A. Garty j and I. C. 11. Sullivan, all of Wc.'linglon. H. J. Hugill, E. W. Harvey, D. Wellington. R. H. J. Broady. B. A. Franklin. R. L. A. McFarland. D. Clearwater. E. L. D. Ash win. all of Auckland, J. G. Barnes, J. A. McConnell, W. J. Barclay, all of Dunedin, L. H. Parkinson (Opotiki). V. Watters (Whangarei), R. J. Carter (Taumarunui), F. W. Marshall (Tauranga), C. J. Shalfoon (Opotiki), J. IT. Bcrriman (New Plymouth), W. A. N. Hardy (Wanganui), H. R. Manertn <Patea>. Mr Jordan also visited the Ely Hospital where there are several New Zealanders.P.A. Specj ial Correspondent.