NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1942, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

SERVING IN BRITAIN.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON. October 17.

Five New Zealanders who are flying and lighting together from a famous R.A.F. aerodrome near London are Squadron Leader J. R. C. Kilian, Christchurch, Flight Lieutenant L. P. Griffith, D.F.C., Levin, Pilot Officer D. A. Piggott. Auckland, Sergeant Pilots W. W. Peet, Dannevirke, and F. E. Livesey, Christchurch. Kilian, an old Christ College boy, commands a squadron which is flying one of the latest types of fighter aircraft. He has been in the United Kingdom about a year, in which he achieved his present rank. He was playing cards with the rest of the boys on “readiness” when seen. He has a lively, busy squadron, in which British. New Zealanders and Canadians are teaming splendidly. Kilian is. one of the quietest men on the station, but is officially credited with one plane destroyed and one probable. He also shared the destruction of a second.

Griffith, who is at present undergoing specialised gunnery instruction from Wing Commander A. G. Malan. the R.A.F.’s top-scorer with 35 enemy planes, has tvzo probables and four damaged to his credit. The others are shaping well.