NEW ZEALAND PILOTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1943, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PILOTS

“TANK-BUSTING” AND OTHER SERVICE. SPLENDID STANDARDS SET. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) NORTH OF SUSA, April 27. Away back at El Alamein, just before the Eighth Army’s break through, a New Zealand pilot of a Hurricane tankbuster made a forced landing in the :New Zealand lines and had dinner at brigade headquarters before returning I to his squadron. During the recent battle of the Tebaga Gap, the same pilot again landed with similar trouble —a burst oil pipe—and again found himself among New Zealanders. He is Pilot Officer J. B. Paton, Lower Hutt, who for nearly a year past has been flying with the tank-busting 'squadron. During the advance on El Hamma he was slightly wounded in the leg, but it was not long before he was in the air again in operations ahead of his countrymen on the ground. In the same squadron are Flying Officer P. N .McGregor, Waihi, and Sergeant Pilot K. Crompton, Karori. The men of the tank-busting squadron have played a notable part in helping to clear the way for the ground forces. Attacking at a speed of 240 miles an hour, they face the hazards of ground fire to descend as low as 10ft. before sending bursts from their pair of two- 1 pounders and machine-guns into the vulnerable parts of enemy tanks. Usually they get in three rounds from each two-pounder. iftie New Zealand pilots are greatly pleased to be taking part in operations in which the New Zealand Division is engaged. The adjutant of the squadron is Flight Lieutenant K. F. V. (Tim) Hudson, formerly of Auckland, who for several years before the war was in Australia and joined up with the R.A.A.F.

When Squadron Leader Colin Gray, D.F.C. and bar, the Gisborne Spitfire pilot, shot down a Messerschmitt today he brought the total score of his fighter wing to 200 enemy aircraft destroyed in North Africa. Gray has destroyed five enemy aircraft in this campaign, and his total victories are now 22J.