Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 18, 2020 19:42:58 GMT 12
EXCITING CAREER
DOMINION PILOT
DUTY IN 21 COUNTRIES
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) NEW DELHI, April 3.
Twenty-one countries lived in and operated over within two and a half years—that is the record of Flying Officer Peter Jordan, of Palmerston North. Leaving New Zealand with a party of pilots, he went to England via Canada and became operational after a period at an operational training unit.
Later, he was a member of the first fighter squadron to fly off an aircraft carrier to the aid of hard-pressed Malta. After two months' ceaseless air battles over that bomb-torn island the squadron was withdrawn to Egypt for a rest.
Then came the short but bitter Syrian campaign, where New Zealand troops were in action, and the squadron operated there. That affair successfully concluded, they moved next to Irak for a while, and then into Iran.
IRANIAN CAMPAIGN.
They were the only fighter squadron to take part in the brief Iranian campaign of August, 1941. It will be remembered that the Iranian Government was at that time reluctant to co-operate with us regarding our supply lines to Russia and our oil wells. The Russians moved into Iran over the northern frontier, and simultaneously we came in at Abadan in the south, where we own large oil interests.
Lord Wavell —now Viceroy of India, but then Commander-in-Chief Middle East Forces—arranged treaty terms at Teheran, for Iran was then part of the Middle East Command.
North again went the squadron, this time to Mosul on the Turkish border. Old soldiers will remember Mosul as the scene of sandy battles fought by New Zealanders during the Mesopotamian campaign of the last World War Later they were stationed at Haifa in Palestine.
Then at Beirut in Syria for a short while. Next they flew to Cyprus, to defend that island. Later still they went back again to Egypt.
Then Japan suddenly came into the war and quickly over-ran Malaya and the Dutch Indies. It was obvious that an attack on Ceylon was imminent. Once again Flying Officer Jordan's squadron flew off an aircraft-carrier, arriving just in time to help defend the naval base of Trincomalee. All but five of the squadron's planes were knocked out during the desperate air battles of that grim day. But the invaders were repelled. Nine months later they flew up to India where they were engaged on fighter sweeps over Burma, and defence work.
EVENING POST, 12 MAY 1944
DOMINION PILOT
DUTY IN 21 COUNTRIES
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) NEW DELHI, April 3.
Twenty-one countries lived in and operated over within two and a half years—that is the record of Flying Officer Peter Jordan, of Palmerston North. Leaving New Zealand with a party of pilots, he went to England via Canada and became operational after a period at an operational training unit.
Later, he was a member of the first fighter squadron to fly off an aircraft carrier to the aid of hard-pressed Malta. After two months' ceaseless air battles over that bomb-torn island the squadron was withdrawn to Egypt for a rest.
Then came the short but bitter Syrian campaign, where New Zealand troops were in action, and the squadron operated there. That affair successfully concluded, they moved next to Irak for a while, and then into Iran.
IRANIAN CAMPAIGN.
They were the only fighter squadron to take part in the brief Iranian campaign of August, 1941. It will be remembered that the Iranian Government was at that time reluctant to co-operate with us regarding our supply lines to Russia and our oil wells. The Russians moved into Iran over the northern frontier, and simultaneously we came in at Abadan in the south, where we own large oil interests.
Lord Wavell —now Viceroy of India, but then Commander-in-Chief Middle East Forces—arranged treaty terms at Teheran, for Iran was then part of the Middle East Command.
North again went the squadron, this time to Mosul on the Turkish border. Old soldiers will remember Mosul as the scene of sandy battles fought by New Zealanders during the Mesopotamian campaign of the last World War Later they were stationed at Haifa in Palestine.
Then at Beirut in Syria for a short while. Next they flew to Cyprus, to defend that island. Later still they went back again to Egypt.
Then Japan suddenly came into the war and quickly over-ran Malaya and the Dutch Indies. It was obvious that an attack on Ceylon was imminent. Once again Flying Officer Jordan's squadron flew off an aircraft-carrier, arriving just in time to help defend the naval base of Trincomalee. All but five of the squadron's planes were knocked out during the desperate air battles of that grim day. But the invaders were repelled. Nine months later they flew up to India where they were engaged on fighter sweeps over Burma, and defence work.
EVENING POST, 12 MAY 1944
