Anti-Aircraft Gunnery Figures

[Dave Homewood]

Wow this is impressive figures. I wonder what the total tally of downed enemy aircraft the NZ Anti-Aircraft units racked up for the whole war?

A.A. GUNNERY

NEW ZEALAND FIGURES

(Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT. Sept. 7.
Fourteen planes were brought down in seven days by the New Zealand anti-aircraft gunners. Three were destroyed yesterday, making a total of thirty-five since this campaign began. The figures are those of planes seen to crash, but very probably several others have failed to reach their aerodromes. Those destroyed during the week were eight Messerschmitt 109F's, three Junkers 88's, one Junkers 87, and two Messerschmitt 202's. During a violent dog fight over the New Zealand lines yesterday morning our gunners sorted out two Messerschmitt 109's. Both crashed, one with its tail shot off. During a raid in the evening a Stuka made its last dive when it was struck by ack-ack fire.

EVENING POST, 9 SEPTEMBER 1942

[tbf25o4]

The reference to Messerschmitt 202's should probably read Macchi MC.202 Folgore (Italian Regia Aeronautica)

[Dave Homewood]

Ah yes, I was wondering what that meant.

[hildaren]

Nov 19, 2019 23:51:22 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Wow this is impressive figures. I wonder what the total tally of downed enemy aircraft the NZ Anti-Aircraft units racked up for the whole war?

A.A. GUNNERY

NEW ZEALAND FIGURES

(Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT. Sept. 7.
Fourteen planes were brought down in seven days by the New Zealand anti-aircraft gunners. Three were destroyed yesterday, making a total of thirty-five since this campaign began. The figures are those of planes seen to crash, but very probably several others have failed to reach their aerodromes. Those destroyed during the week were eight Messerschmitt 109F's, three Junkers 88's, one Junkers 87, and two Messerschmitt 202's. During a violent dog fight over the New Zealand lines yesterday morning our gunners sorted out two Messerschmitt 109's. Both crashed, one with its tail shot off. During a raid in the evening a Stuka made its last dive when it was struck by ack-ack fire.

EVENING POST, 9 SEPTEMBER 1942

[hildaren]

hi

the 14th A/A regiments last kill was at Cassino, its total was 67 1/2. it was Disbanded on 1st November 44 and 157 gunners became infantry in the newly formed Divisional Cavalry Battalion, it all so sunk an K-boat (R?) off Rimini. the 28th heavy and 29th light aa regiments had no luck in the pacific.

hildaren

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks, wow that's a great tally.

Cheers.

[davidd]

Did we send any trained A/A gunners to the UK or to Egypt in early years of the war? Or were they mostly men who volunteered from the field artillery in-theatre?
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Good question David. I do know the NZ Army had some in the Pacific as my late friend Jack Robinson was an anti-aircraft gunner and he personally shot down a Zero, which was attacking his position, and he described that in great detail.

[hbpencil]

At the risk of coming across as self promoting, last year I colourised this photo (for the grandson of the photographer) showing an NZ bofors crew in action at Tripoli which I thought I should share seeing as it fits this thread.
www.facebook.com/color.praeterita/photos/a.1559241137715009/1799820573657063/?type=3&theater