N.Z. Pilots And Navy Men Saw Dieppe

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1942, Page 3

N.Z. Pilots And Navy Men Saw Dieppe

Special Correspondent.

Spitfire squadron carried out f our sweeps.

Rec. 7.30 p.m London, Aug. 31. The New Zealand Spitfire Squadron carried out four sweeps during the recent attack on Dieppe and shot down two Huns and probably two more. Led by Squadron-Leader R. Grant, D.F.M., and accompanied by Wing-Com-mander P. G . Jameson, D.F.C, and bai, they took off on the first flight at 2 a.m., returnmg periodically for refuelling and reammunitioning and snatching hasty bites of food. Wing-Commander Jameson 6hot down one Hun in flames and Pilol Officer C. Chrystall (Foxton) got another. Flight-Lieutenant R. Baker (Dunedin) and Flying Officer Lindsay Black (Levin) got the probables. During the fourth flight Squadron-Leader Grant, Flight-Lieutenant Baker and Sergeant H. Leckie (Petone) all had combats without result. Many members of the R.N.Z.N.V.R, also took part in the Dieppe raid, including Telegraphist R. N. Mitchell (Christchurch) and Petty- Officer Motor Mechanic D. Gillies (Oamaru), who were members of the crew of a motor-launch. "We arrived at Dieppe at 5 a.m. escort-

■■■■■■■ — ing a number of invasion barges carrying French Canadians," said Telegraphisi Mitchell. 'It was just before dawn when we got there. We accompanied barges to the shore while the shore battery pumped shells at us. They landed behind us until our destroyers silenced the battery. I got a good view of this for I was working two hours on and two off and I was off for this period, so I stood on the deck. "As we closed inshore the Huns fired ack-ack at us but the flying splinterS injured no one on our ship. We put a emoke screen round the barges when they were nearly ashore. We swore when our engines packed up temporarily but they soon started again. "After landing the troops we stood offshore until 3 p.m. watching the destroyers bombarding. We also saw several German aircraft shot down. Once three Hun bombers attempted to attack but a destroyer shot the wing oif one and directly hit another, while a Spitfire gccounted for the third. Another time six Dorniers came from the clouds intending to fix us but inside two minutes Spitfires ghot down four and the remaining two jettisoned their bombs and tore off. We were among the last ships to leave. Our fiotilla had an escort of at least 76 Spitfires above us for the whole of the return trip."