WORK OF FIGHTER SQUADRON

Southland Times, Issue 24890, 2 November 1942, Page 4

WORK OF FIGHTER SQUADRON

New Zealand Airmen In

Britain

Wing-Commander E. P. Wells, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and bar, of Cambridge, who has recently returned to New Zealand after taking part in 350 sorties and raids against the enemy, last night gave a broadcast talk about the work of the New Zealand Fighter Squadron. WingCommander Wells compared the air combats of the first World War with those of this war. The pilots of the previous war risked their lives in flying their dilapidated machines, none of which was capable of very high speed. The’speed of a dogfight between Spitfires and Focke-Wulfs occasionally exceeded 500 miles an hour. The dogfights were fought at from 200 to 35,000 feet above the ground. Explaining the terrific fire power of the Spitfire, Wing-Commander Wells said that in three seconds this fighter was capable of firing 60 cannon shells and 640 bullets of .303 calibre. He said that watchers from the ground had little hope of seeing a dogfight from beginning to end as the planes travelled often much more than 20 miles over the English Channel before it was decided.

Wing-Commander Wells paid a tribute to the magnificent work of New Zealand airmen in England. He also warmly praised the work being done for all New Zealand members of the services by, Mr W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand.