Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 16, 2019 20:11:42 GMT 12
N.Z. Tempests Shoot Down 9 Nazi Fighters
(Official N.Z.E.F. News Service) LONDON, April 30
The New Zealand Tempest squadron in Germany shot down nine German fighters when the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt today to stop expansion on the Britisn 2nd Army’s new bridgehead over the Elbe near Schleswig. In addition, a number of vehicles were destroyed on roads just ahead of the British.
A feature of the day’s work was the destruction of a German jet-driven fighter by a New Zealand pilot, Flying-Officer K. I. Smith, of Hamilton, flying at zero feet along the runway of a German airfield, through heavy flak, saw this Messerschmitt 262 burst into flames as it was landing.
On his mission looking for ground targets, Smith saw two 262's attacking his formation to the east of Elsmhorn. They approached in a shallow dive and then, after firing, pulled out into sharp climbing turns.
Long Chase
“I had a burst at them,” Smith said, “and then dived for the deck and started to trail them. I chased them for a long time and hardly seemed to be gaining on them. It was just as two Spitfires showed up that one Jet seemed to run short of fuel.
“I kept at it, not wanting the Spits to steal my thunder. The distance grew shorter and shorter and after another two minutes I was within half a mile of it. Seeing the Jet in an airfield circuit, I pulled up and did a stall turn and went down after it, my guns firing.
“Although cannon shells were kicking all round the airfield, I did not, see any strikes. As I pulled up I saw the Jet burning furiously.”
First Jet Success
When he returned to base Smith found five flak holes in his Tempest. This was the first Jet shot down by a New Zealander.
A convoy of 100 vehicles moving westward into Wismar was shot up by Flying-Officer Owen Eagleson, D.F.C., of Auckland, who led a formation of New Zealand Tempests. It was a convoy of armoured cars and lorries. Most of them opened fire at the aircraft, but only slight damage was done to the mainplanes of three machines.
Leading another flight, Flying-Officer C. J. McDonald, of Christchurch, saw four F.W. 190's lining up to dive-bomb troops engaged in bridging operations. When the Tempests appeared the Germans jettisoned their bombs and fuel tanks and scuttled off under cloud cover.
NORTHERN ADVOCATE, 1 MAY 1945
(Official N.Z.E.F. News Service) LONDON, April 30
The New Zealand Tempest squadron in Germany shot down nine German fighters when the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt today to stop expansion on the Britisn 2nd Army’s new bridgehead over the Elbe near Schleswig. In addition, a number of vehicles were destroyed on roads just ahead of the British.
A feature of the day’s work was the destruction of a German jet-driven fighter by a New Zealand pilot, Flying-Officer K. I. Smith, of Hamilton, flying at zero feet along the runway of a German airfield, through heavy flak, saw this Messerschmitt 262 burst into flames as it was landing.
On his mission looking for ground targets, Smith saw two 262's attacking his formation to the east of Elsmhorn. They approached in a shallow dive and then, after firing, pulled out into sharp climbing turns.
Long Chase
“I had a burst at them,” Smith said, “and then dived for the deck and started to trail them. I chased them for a long time and hardly seemed to be gaining on them. It was just as two Spitfires showed up that one Jet seemed to run short of fuel.
“I kept at it, not wanting the Spits to steal my thunder. The distance grew shorter and shorter and after another two minutes I was within half a mile of it. Seeing the Jet in an airfield circuit, I pulled up and did a stall turn and went down after it, my guns firing.
“Although cannon shells were kicking all round the airfield, I did not, see any strikes. As I pulled up I saw the Jet burning furiously.”
First Jet Success
When he returned to base Smith found five flak holes in his Tempest. This was the first Jet shot down by a New Zealander.
A convoy of 100 vehicles moving westward into Wismar was shot up by Flying-Officer Owen Eagleson, D.F.C., of Auckland, who led a formation of New Zealand Tempests. It was a convoy of armoured cars and lorries. Most of them opened fire at the aircraft, but only slight damage was done to the mainplanes of three machines.
Leading another flight, Flying-Officer C. J. McDonald, of Christchurch, saw four F.W. 190's lining up to dive-bomb troops engaged in bridging operations. When the Tempests appeared the Germans jettisoned their bombs and fuel tanks and scuttled off under cloud cover.
NORTHERN ADVOCATE, 1 MAY 1945
