Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2012 23:00:11 GMT 12
SEAFIRE PLANES AT SALERNO LANDING
FLEET AIR ARM DASH
New Zealand Pilot Tells Thrilling Story
N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent
Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 13.
The important part played by Seafire planes of the Fleet Air Arm in the Allied landing at Salerno has now been made known. Seafires from the escort aircraft carriers Battler, Unicorn, Hunter, Stalker and Attacker flew standing patrols over the landing troops for four days, then flew from landing grounds ashore for three days, until the R.A.F. arrived. R.A.F. aircraft were based in Sicily.
They had to fly for three hours to Salerno, where they could only patrol for half an hour. It was hoped they could occupy the aerodrome at Montecavino the day following the initial assault, but a German counter-attack made this impossible and the full weight of the task of covering troops fell on the Fleet Air Arm. It was believed the landing would have failed without their support.
Several New Zealanders were among the pilots. These included Lieutenant F. A. J. Pennington, Wellington, Sub-Lieutenants L. D. Graham, Taumarunui, M. L. Heath, Nelson, A. B. Foley, Takapau, and A. S. McLeod, Taranaki; also D. L. Olds.
Battleships at Malta
"From Gibraltar we went to Malta, where in addition to our 'Woolworth Carriers,' there were the formidable Rodney, Nelson and many other warships," said a New Zealander who was one of the Seafire pilots. "It was a wonderful sight. Our force left Malta on September 10. Next morning we were off Salerno Bay and began our first patrol at dawn. It was a beautiful clear, morning. We patrolled all day long, flying about one hour and twenty minutes on each patrol."
"We provided low cover while other Seafires acted as high cover. It was a marvellous sight to see the troops landing under our 'bus.' There were long lines of landing barges going to the beach. Once there were two lines of between 50 and 60 barges, nose to nose, making for the beaches. We expected that our work would be finished after that day and that the Royal Air Force would land at Montecavino, but our patrols had to continue for four days."
Germans Fighters Scared
"Then some of us went ashore. We had not seen any German fighters. We could hear them on the radio telephone occasionally, but they seemed as scared as hell of the Seafires. That time ashore was the most exciting part of the operations for us. We had to use a landing-strip in the airfields in an area occupied by the Americans. They refuelled the Seafires with four-gallon cans of petrol, which was a slow, laborious job. Next morning we carried out a weather patrol, but when we landed to refuel some Focke-Wulfs came over and started bombing, but the American 'ack-ack' kept them well out of the way."
"We moved to another landing strip later in the day only 400 yards in front of the British artillery position. We carried out patrols until dusk that night. Junkers 88's divebombed us for nearly an hour. This was not so good, as often they would switch off their engines and glide in before dropping their bombs, with the result that they exploded without warning. We turned in about 10 p.m. for a sleep in an old dry drain, with a blanket or two, but sleep was impossible, for only an hour later the British barrage started. It lasted from 11 p.m. until 4 o'clock next morning. With the guns only 300 yards behind us we could feel the concussion. The din was terrific. We flew again at dawn, but no Germans showed up."
Bombers Raise the Dust
"About 10.45 a.m. our bombers began to arrive. First there came 100 Mitchells, and they were followed later by 100 Bostons. They were not molested and they gave the Germans hell. That afternoon the R.A.F. arrived, so we could set off to find our carriers, which had retired in the direction of North Africa. As we left Italy we could see the dust raised by Allied bombing still forming a screen to a height of 2000 feet. We flew from Salerno to Patti, in Sicily, then to Castleventrano, and then on to Bizerta, from where we returned to England."
"We would not have missed the operation for anything. Our keenness to get ashore and fly from aerodromes in Italy was so intense that there was nearly a scrap between our pilots as to who should be allowed to go."
"We were very interested to meet the Americans there and were much impressed by their varieties of concentrated food, which was done up in neat packets, also by their cans of ham and eggs. We had more than we could use, so gave some to the Italians. Their condition was pitiable. What interested us most about the whole operation was the lack of German aircraft in the air against us. That was most disheartening."
The Seafire is the Navy's latest fighter plane. It is of the Spitfire type and armed with cannon.
FLEET AIR ARM DASH
New Zealand Pilot Tells Thrilling Story
N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent
Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 13.
The important part played by Seafire planes of the Fleet Air Arm in the Allied landing at Salerno has now been made known. Seafires from the escort aircraft carriers Battler, Unicorn, Hunter, Stalker and Attacker flew standing patrols over the landing troops for four days, then flew from landing grounds ashore for three days, until the R.A.F. arrived. R.A.F. aircraft were based in Sicily.
They had to fly for three hours to Salerno, where they could only patrol for half an hour. It was hoped they could occupy the aerodrome at Montecavino the day following the initial assault, but a German counter-attack made this impossible and the full weight of the task of covering troops fell on the Fleet Air Arm. It was believed the landing would have failed without their support.
Several New Zealanders were among the pilots. These included Lieutenant F. A. J. Pennington, Wellington, Sub-Lieutenants L. D. Graham, Taumarunui, M. L. Heath, Nelson, A. B. Foley, Takapau, and A. S. McLeod, Taranaki; also D. L. Olds.
Battleships at Malta
"From Gibraltar we went to Malta, where in addition to our 'Woolworth Carriers,' there were the formidable Rodney, Nelson and many other warships," said a New Zealander who was one of the Seafire pilots. "It was a wonderful sight. Our force left Malta on September 10. Next morning we were off Salerno Bay and began our first patrol at dawn. It was a beautiful clear, morning. We patrolled all day long, flying about one hour and twenty minutes on each patrol."
"We provided low cover while other Seafires acted as high cover. It was a marvellous sight to see the troops landing under our 'bus.' There were long lines of landing barges going to the beach. Once there were two lines of between 50 and 60 barges, nose to nose, making for the beaches. We expected that our work would be finished after that day and that the Royal Air Force would land at Montecavino, but our patrols had to continue for four days."
Germans Fighters Scared
"Then some of us went ashore. We had not seen any German fighters. We could hear them on the radio telephone occasionally, but they seemed as scared as hell of the Seafires. That time ashore was the most exciting part of the operations for us. We had to use a landing-strip in the airfields in an area occupied by the Americans. They refuelled the Seafires with four-gallon cans of petrol, which was a slow, laborious job. Next morning we carried out a weather patrol, but when we landed to refuel some Focke-Wulfs came over and started bombing, but the American 'ack-ack' kept them well out of the way."
"We moved to another landing strip later in the day only 400 yards in front of the British artillery position. We carried out patrols until dusk that night. Junkers 88's divebombed us for nearly an hour. This was not so good, as often they would switch off their engines and glide in before dropping their bombs, with the result that they exploded without warning. We turned in about 10 p.m. for a sleep in an old dry drain, with a blanket or two, but sleep was impossible, for only an hour later the British barrage started. It lasted from 11 p.m. until 4 o'clock next morning. With the guns only 300 yards behind us we could feel the concussion. The din was terrific. We flew again at dawn, but no Germans showed up."
Bombers Raise the Dust
"About 10.45 a.m. our bombers began to arrive. First there came 100 Mitchells, and they were followed later by 100 Bostons. They were not molested and they gave the Germans hell. That afternoon the R.A.F. arrived, so we could set off to find our carriers, which had retired in the direction of North Africa. As we left Italy we could see the dust raised by Allied bombing still forming a screen to a height of 2000 feet. We flew from Salerno to Patti, in Sicily, then to Castleventrano, and then on to Bizerta, from where we returned to England."
"We would not have missed the operation for anything. Our keenness to get ashore and fly from aerodromes in Italy was so intense that there was nearly a scrap between our pilots as to who should be allowed to go."
"We were very interested to meet the Americans there and were much impressed by their varieties of concentrated food, which was done up in neat packets, also by their cans of ham and eggs. We had more than we could use, so gave some to the Italians. Their condition was pitiable. What interested us most about the whole operation was the lack of German aircraft in the air against us. That was most disheartening."
The Seafire is the Navy's latest fighter plane. It is of the Spitfire type and armed with cannon.