LONG DISTANCE FLIGHT

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 59, 9 August 1940, Page 3

LONG DISTANCE FLIGHT

Record by N.Z. Poe aes of RAF.

Royal Air Force, which is now commanded by well-known New Zealand airmen, has been doing magnificent work since it was formed. During the German drive through the Low Countries and France, until the French capitulation, the New Zealand Squadron played its part valiantly. American journalists, writing of the last phases of the campaign in France, stated recently that both men and machines of the Royal Air Force fought beyond the endurance of both men and machines. At present the New Zealand Squadron is being brought up to full strength by the addition of personnel from the Royal Air Force, but eventually it will be 100 per cent. New Zealand. Technicians, observers, air-gunners as well as pilots will be absorbed into the New Zealand Squadrons as they arrive in England until every member of the squadron, from the ground staff to the fighters and pilots, is a New Zealander. But not only in France has the New Zealand Squadron made history. The longest reconnaissance flight to date goes to its credit, states a recent number of "Flight." In a Vickers Wellington machine, fitted with long-range petrol tanks, the New Zealanders left Scotland at daybreak for a trip to reconnoitre the whole Norwegian coast to the Lofoten Islands and the Vest Fjord to Narvik. Heavy rain and snowstorms were encountered on the outward journey to the north, and for a long time they were flying in 27 degrees of frost. Describing his experiences after the flight, the pilot said: "As we reached the Norwegian coast we got ready for anything. The wireless operator manned the front gun; the second pilot stood at the astro-hatch, acting as a fire control officer, and the rear gunner took his place in his turret. "Norway, covered in deep snow, was an awe-inspiring sight, and at the time, any land was very welcome to us. New Zealand Squadron of the

"Our real work had now begun, though the weather was steadily deteriorating, There was a high wind, and we were flying in and out of snow and sleet about 300 feet above the sea. There were such terrific bumps that the gunners frequently banged their heads as they were flung upwards out of their seats. "We met an enemy airctaft as we went towards the Vest Fjord, but he sheered off when he saw us, We flew up the fjord through driving snow at only 200 feet. The clouds and cliffs seemed to be closing in on us, and when we got to the end, we swung round, made a sharp turn and continued the reconnaissance southward down the coast as far as Kristiansand. Then we turned for home. "Up to this time, none of us had eaten any of the rations we carried. We had been too excited about doing the job, but now we all had a cup of hot coffee and some sandwiches. "The trip back was without incident, apart from the weather. We saw British Naval units in the North Sea, circled round them and exchanged signals by Aldis lamp. We had seen a couple of British destroyers and a merchantman at the entrance to one of the fjords. We had a strong wind against us on this homeward trip, and we were very glad to see the Shetlands as we approached Scotland, "The crew comprised my second pilot, a Sergeant Observer, who acted as navigator, an L.A/C, who was the wireless operator, an aircraftsman, who was the air gunner, and myself as captain. "The whole crew was interchangeable. Anyone could do anyone else’s job, even to piloting, at a push, There was no automatic pilot in the aircraft. The second pilot and I, before we finished, had shared 144% hours at the controls, over a distance of more than 2000 miles."