N.Z. BOMBERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1943, Page 3

N.Z. BOMBERS

PARTICIPATION IN GREAT

OFFENSIVE

INCLUDING RAID ON DORTMUND

PLANE BROUGHT BACK MINUS ONE PROPELLER.

DEFENCE MINISTER VISITS STATION.

(Special P.A. Correspondent.) LONDON, May 25.

The Air Ministry states that among the New Zealanders who took part in, the heaviest raid on Dortmund were Flying Officer A. A. MacFarlane, Rotherham, Pilot Officer R. F. Perks, Wellington, Sergeants K. A. Toon, A. M. Pullan, Christchurch, C. R. Strang. Winton, and W. E. Elder, Gore. The New Zealand Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, continuing his round of visits, arrived at the No. 75 New Zealand Stirling station on the day following the R.A.F’s. raid on Dortmund. He heard how the squadron formed part of the big force of fourengined bombers which took part in the raid. Mr Jones was particularly interested to learn of the fine airmanship of Flight Sergeant W. D. Whitehead, Papakura, who had a propeller shot away over the target. The others in the crew were Flight Sergeant M. E. Parker, Milford, Sergeants P. G. Dobson, Blenheim, C. L. Parker, and R. Jamieson, both of Auckland. Whitehead told Mr Jones: “We were right over the target and had just bombed when flak hit the port outer engine. It caught five and made us a “sitter” for a cone of searchlights which picked us up. We lost 5000 feet, but the propeller flew off and the engine stopped, which put out the fire. We flew 500 miles home in three hours with the remaining three engines. It was our 11 th trip. We had with us as second pilot on his first trip T. Darton, Gisborne. He came for experience and certainly got it.” Mi’ Jones presented six tankards to both the officers’ and sergeants’ messes on behalf of Air Commodore M. W. Buckley, the squadron’s former commanding officer. The Minister addressed them and the ground crews, telling of his experiences when meeting the N. and he also answered many questions, ranging from mail queries to inquiries about post-War civil aviation, and “is there a 10 p.m. curfew in Wellington?” Mr Jones was accompanied by Group Captain A. McKee, D. 5.0., D.F.C., A.F.C., Canterbury, who commands a. group of stations in the district, and also Group Captain A. J. M. Manson. The Minister learnt that five members of one of the squadron’s crews were recently decorated after completing 29 raids. They were: Flight Lieutenants L, Trott, Otorohanga; W. Scollay, Wellington; D. Poppelwell, Gore; Pilot Officer H. Hamerton, Patea, who received D.F.C’s., and M. Manawaiti, who won the D.F.M., and has now been promoted pilot officer. This crew is regarded as one of the best in the Bomber Command during its period of operations. It took part in many big raids. Once, over Lorient, flak tore a.hole 2ft. byssin. in the main petrol tank, but the Stirling just managed to reach England. Mr Jones was informed that several Now Zealanders had recently completed their tour of operations, including Flying Officer C. F. Ormerod. Gisborne; Pilot Officers J. M. Bailey, Huntervillc; P. Buck, D.F.C'., Wanganui, and Sergeant B. Hosie, Manaia. Newcomers include Flying Officers B. Vernazoni, Christchurch; C. Riddle, Invercargill, and Pilot Officer H. Tong, Auckland. They are all in the same crew. Vernazoni went as second pilot with another crew to Dortmund for experience.

Mr Jones also met the squadron’s new commanding officer, Wing Commander M. Wyatt. He is English and had an engine shot out during a raid on Turin.