U.S. BOMBERS’ BIG RAID

Southland Times, Issue 24872, 12 October 1942, Page 5

U.S. BOMBERS’ BIG RAID

HEAVY GERMAN PLANE LOSSES (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 10. Forty-eight enemy aircraft were destroyed by the United States Flying Fortresses and Liberator bombers during a raid on Lille yesterday morning. A further 38 were probably destroyed and 19 were damaged. It also revealed that 115 bombers took part in the operation and only four bombers were lost, while not one of the 500 Royal Air Force fighters which escorted the bombers is missing, though they destroyed five enemy fighters. The Fives-Lille shell and engineering works, which was the main target for the bombers, is one of the most important in France. Locomotives and other heavy engineering equipment are made. The official report of the British Air Ministry and the United States Army Headquarters states: “More than 100 United States Army Air Forces Flying Fortresses, B 17’s, and Liberator bombers, B 24’s, took part yesterday in a high-level daylight attack upon German held industrial establishments at Lille. Many squadrons of Allied fighters, more than 500 planes in all, made supporting and diversionary sweeps during the operation. BURSTS ON TARGET “The bombers’ main target was the Lille steel and locomotive works. Many bursts were seen on the target and the crews of the attacking aircraft saw a huge column of flame and smoke arising from the target as they flew away. “A large number of enemy aircraft was encountered and the bombers had many successful combats. Four of our bombers are missing, but the crew of one is safe. Our fighters destroyed five enemy aircraft. No fighters are missing.” Another communique states: “This morning single aircraft of the Bomber Command, one of which is missing, bombed objectives in the Upper Rhineland. Yesterday afternoon Coastal Command Beaufighters destroyed a Junkers 88 over the Bay of Biscay.” NEW DOMINION SQUADRON INVERCARGILL AIRMEN INCLUDED (Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, October 10. The first bombers of the Sixth New Zealand Squadron to be formed in Britain are now completing their training. It is commanded by Wing-Com-mander F. C. Seavill, of Hamilton. The pilots will fly American bombers and will operate from the station recently vacated by the famous No. 75 (New Zealand) Wellington Bomber Squadron, which after being based on this station since the beginning of the war has now moved a few miles away. This station is rich in New Zealand associations. Some hundreds of New Zealanders have bombed Germany and the occupied countries 1 from it. Many have never returned and some sleep in a nearby graveyard. Others have won decorations, including Sergeant-Pilot J. A. Ward, V.C., so that although No. 75 Squadron has moved the new-comers will carry on and enrich that tradition. The station commander is Group Captain R. L. Kippenberger, of Waimate, a brother of Brigadier H. K. Kippenberger, D.S.O. The other squadron on the station is an Australian formation, so it is truly Anzac. Wing-Commander Seavill’s flight commanders are Squadron Leaders Brian Wheeler, D.F.C., of Marton, and L. H. Trent, D.F.C., of Nelson. The new squadron’s third D.F.C. is Pilot Officer G. W. Brewer, of Papatoetoe, who won the decoration on his very first operation. PERSONNEL OF SQUADRON The High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, visiting the squadron, met them all, in addition to the following New Zealand personnel: —Flight-Lieutenant R. A. Reece (Christchurch), who is a navigating officer, Pilot Officers G. A. Park (Dunedin), W. Gellatly (Nelson), T. J. Baynton, R. A. Ferri, T. Whyte, R. F. Edmonds, W. D. T. Goodfellow (Auckland), C. Baker, J. F. Greensteet, J. D. Sharpe, T. L. B. Taylor, C. J. Baker (Wellington), G. W. Lee, R. W. Second (Christchurch), E. C. Armitage (Dunedin), A. Coufts (Whakatane), B. M. Weeds, J. D. Hamill (Invercargill),

G. E. Whitwell (Tirau), B. S. McCullum (Opunake) and R. J. Street (New Plymouth). Members of the ground crew are Corporals R. E. Travers (Wanganui), C. E. Bush (Auckland), D. Macara (Gore) and Aircraftman H. H. Armstrong (Whakatane). Group Captain Kippenberger joined the Royal Air Force in 1929 after working his way to England in a tramp steamer. He was given a short service commission and ultimately was permanently commissioned. He spent five years in instructing before the war, also testing aircraft, and took a Staff College course. In March 1940 he went to France with the Advanced Air Striking Force and finally left France after its fall with Air Marshal Sir Patrick Playfair, who commanded the British Expeditionary Force’s Air Component. After returning to England Group Captain Kippenberger alternated staff work with commanding the Wellington squadron, when he carried out three raids as a wing-commander.