N.Z. BOMBERS IN BRITAIN

Southland Times, Issue 24874, 14 October 1942, Page 5

N.Z. BOMBERS IN BRITAIN

SOUTHLAND AIRMEN IN RAIDS (Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. The New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, while on a visit to the 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 are providing increasing opposition, but Flight-Sergeant R. C. Reynolds (Lower Hutt) and Sergeant Bruce Philip (Amberley) have each shot down a Junkers 88, while Flight-Sergeant K. A. Crank - shaw (Greymouth) and Sergeant B. Neal (North Auckland) are among the New Zealanders who have taken a “bang at the night-fighters.” Flight-Sergeant Reynolds was in an all-New Zealand crew which has completed its operational tour. The others were Flight-Sergeant J. L. Wright (Hamilton) and Sergeants 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 Sergeants W. Gordon (Kaiapoi) and A. Drew (Auckland). They have also finished a tour of operations, as have Sergeant H. V. Allen (Christchurch), Flight-Ser-geant K. Sutherland (Invercargill) and Pilot Officers E. A. Letchford (Picton) and L. Chambers (Westport). The squadron’s present “oldest inhabitant” is Pilot Officer W. G. Home (Masterton), who has nearly completed his operational tour. 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 the searchlights for half an hour. The aircraft was severely damaged. It flew over the Dutch coast in daylight, but returned safely. ADVENTURE OVER BREMEN

Another all-New Zealand crew comprises Pilot Officers L. G. Trott (Otorohanga), W. J. R. Scollay (Wellington) and D. L. Poppelwell (Gore) and Sergeants M. Manawaiti (Timaru) and H. Hamerton (New Plymouth). They have completed half their operational tour. During a recent heavy raid over Bremen Pilot Officer Trott levelled out his aircraft preparatory to bombing and photographing when anti-aircraft fire rocked the Wellington, surrounding it with cordite smoke. They bombed and then dived to port at over 400 miles an hour, both engines cutting out when Pilot Officer Trott pulled out of the dive. The aileron trimming tabs jammed, making the aircraft almost uncontrollable, but the pilot managed by holding the stick right over. Otherwise the aircraft showed a tendency to slow roll.