NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1943, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIGHTER SQUADRON FACTS GIVEN TO DEFENCE MINISTER. MANY SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS. (Special P.A. Correspondent.) LONDON, April 18. Two Focke-Wulfs destroyed, one probably destroyed and one damaged, two minesweepers seriously damaged and left on fire, four ships damaged, one oil tank shot up and left, on fire is the record of the Second New Zealand Fighter Squadron in the last fortnight since Squadron Leader D. J. Scott, D.F.C. and Bar, Hokitika, took over the command. Within a week of his arrival Squadron Leader Scott shared the destruction of a Focke-Wulf with Sergeant R. H. Fitz Gibbon. He also damaged another. The New Zealand Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, heard of these achievements when he visited the squadron. He was accompanied by Air Commodore A. de T. Nevill and Air Vice-Marshal K. R. Park and was received by Air Vice-Marshal H. W. L. Saunders and Group Captain H. D. MacGregor, D. 5.0., who is the station commander Mr Jones lunched with the squadron and then talked to them in their dispersal hut, congratulating them on their fine record. Air ViceMarshal Saunders handed Mr Jones the previous day's combat report of the squadron’s raid. Mr Jones congratulated the squadron on its score, which is now 14.. destroyed. He met two newcomers, Flying Officer L. J. Appleton, Wellington, and Sergeant W. Swinton, the latter the squadron’s only Maori. Mr Jones next visited the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron, where he was welcomed by Squadron Leader R. Baker, D.F.C., and also Wing Commander E. P. Wells, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, who was paying the squadron a visit. He is later taking a Staff College course. Mr Jones told the squadron how everyone in New Zealand was interested in its fine record and progress and how both the King and Mr Churchill had expressed the highest appreciation of the New Zealanders’ war service. Mr Jones was interested to learn that the Spitfires for which New Zealand subscribed have served their turn and that the squadron is now flying others on which the names of the provinces are marked.