N.Z. AIRMEN IN DESERT

Southland Times, Issue 24823, 15 August 1942, Page 5

N.Z. AIRMEN IN DESERT

INVERCARGILL PILOT (Official War Correspondent)

CAIRO, August 13.

Everyone calls them Kiwis, those New Zealanders in the Royal Air Force in the Middle East. Practically every squadron, including the South African, supporting the Bth Army has one or two New Zealanders.

One Hurrican bomber squadron I have seen operating is commanded by Squadron Leader J. C. Hayter, of D’Urville Island, who fought in France and the Battje of Britain. He has been flying in the desert for three months. His squadron, including Australians, Canadians, Americans and Rhodesians, has blitzed many enemy positions and also has acted as a normal fighter squadron. A nearby Hurricane fighter squadron includes Pilot Officer J. S. Hepburn, of Ashburton, who flew in Canada, Iceland, England, Ireland, the Gold Coast, Cyprus, Syria and Palestine before flying in the desert and Sergeant K. G. AUington, who has been flying fighters since the retreat from Gambut.

The envy of all others is one Spitfire squadron, which includes Sergeant Denny Burman, of Invercargill, and which is now resting at a rear aerodrome after the squadron has provided top cover for Royal Air Force operations in this campaign. Among the hardest working squadrons is a naval Albacore squadron. Sub-Lieutenant Sandy Brunt (Christchurch) has taken part in 32 sorties since Tobruk fell, including mine-lay-ing and land bombing. The most frequent target lately has been Mersa Matruh, the best defended enemy port. “Sleep all morning and bomb nightly” has been the programme for many weeks.

Sergeant-Pilot Dennis Burman Is a son of Mr and Mrs C. R. Burman, 63 Earn street, Invercargill. He was educated at the South School and for four years at the Southland Boys’ High School. He was a first grade gymnast while at the High School. Until his enlistment in the Air Force Sergeant-Pilot Burman was employed by the State Advances Corporation. He left New Zealand in March 1941. This year he was transferred to the Middle East. ITALIAN CRUISERS BOMBED (8.0.W.) RUGBY, August 13. A Cairo message reports an attack at dusk on Tuesday by United States heavy bombers on four enemy cruisers lin Navarino harbour. Three of the . cruisers were damaged. Two hits on I one cruiser caused a large explosion and a near miss or hit on a second , cruiser caused a huge column of black smoke. Another near miss was scored on a third cruiser and there were three explosions aboard when the bomb burst. The attack was carried out by a big force of heavy bombers, which found the cruisers moored together.