FIRST VICTORIES

Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 5

FIRST VICTORIES

N.Z. TORPEDO BOMBER

SQUADRON (Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, August 15. The New Zealand Torpedo Bomber Squadron is credited with probably torpedoing a merchantman off the Norwegian coast and also probably shooting down a Nazi fighter. These are the squadron’s first victories. The flight included Flying Officer J. J. Richardson, Pilot Officers J. H. Reason, T. D. G. Murray and S. Latta, all of Auckland, and Flying Officer A. J. Mottram, who is an Englishman. They were sent out to search for a Koln class cruiser. They ran into a thick cloud-bank and could see nothing. Then Flying Officer Mottram found a gap in the clouds and went down and found a 3000-ton merchantman at anchor. He dropped a torpedo and last saw it travelling toward the ship. When attacked by an enemy fighter the gunners replied at point-blank range until both planes were covered with cloud. Flying Officer Mottram’s gunners are New Zealanders, but their names are at present not available. Flying Officer Mottram is a star tennis player. He played on the Wimbledon centre court before the war. J. R. C. Kilian, of Christchurch, has been promoted Squadron Leader and is now commanding officer of a Spitfire squadron. He was previously with a New Zealand Spitfire unit.