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New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. II)

Contents

page ix

Contents

Page
PREFACE vii
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
Strategic situation at opening of fourth year of war – Growing Allied power in the air – Success of Commonwealth Air Training Plans – New Zealand contribution to increasing RAF strength – Outstanding leaders and personalities – The task ahead.
CHAPTER 2 AIRCRAFT AGAINST U-BOAT 15
Most critical period in the Battle of the Atlantic – Uncertainty about counter-measures – The renewed bombing of U-boat building, ports, and bases – No. 75 Squadron's part. Air patrols in the North Atlantic – New Zealanders fly with Coastal Command from Iceland and United Kingdom – Victory in the North Atlantic – Patrol and attack in Bay of Biscay – Changing German tactics – Success of this air campaign – Patrols from Gibraltar and West Africa – No. 490 Squadron's work – Doenitz threatens new type of U-boat war.
CHAPTER 3 BOMBER COMMAND AND THE BATTLE OF THE RUHR 40
Bomber Command's campaign against Germany during earlier years – Allied strategy for 1943 – Stronger British force now available – Harris in command – Prominent New Zealanders and the part of No. 75 Squadron – Advent of new technical aids – The sustained assault on the Ruhr, March – June 1943 – Some exploits and experiences – Attacks on other German towns – The Dam raids – Some difficulties in the development of the combined bombing offensive.
CHAPTER 4 LONGER-RANGE ATTACKS 83
The Battle of Hamburg – Bomber Command's inability to repeat this success – Raids against Italy – Deeper into Germany – Attacks on enemy aircraft industry – New Zealanders and the work of No. 75 Squadron – German counter-measures to heavier RAF raids – The Battle of Berlin – Renewed attacks on German aircraft industry – The Allied bombing achievement by March 1944. page x
CHAPTER 5 WITH MINE, BOMB, AND TORPEDO 114
Growth of the air assault on German sea communications in North-West Europe – Minelaying by Bomber Command during 1943 – The increasing German defences – Development of high-level minelaying – Major effort by No. 75 (NZ) Squadron – New Zealanders with other bomber squadrons. Coastal Command's attacks on ships at sea – The work of No. 489 (NZ) Squadron – New Zealanders with other squadrons – Development of Beaufighter Strike Wings – Some typical attacks – Formation of Anzac Strike Wing and the part of No. 489 Squadron.
CHAPTER 6 DAYLIGHT RAIDS BY THE LIGHT BOMBERS 137
Development of RAF daylight raids – New Zealanders with No. 2 Bomber Group – The part of No. 487 Squadron – A memorable mission to Amsterdam – Mosquito crews and their work – Some notable attacks – Reorganisation – Bombing raids during latter half of 1943 – The opening attacks on flying-bomb sites – No. 487 Squadron and the raid on Amiens prison.
CHAPTER 7 DAY-FIGHTERS AND FIGHTER-BOMBERS 169
The British fighter force at the beginning of 1943 – Its changing role – Two fighter support missions – New Zealand wing leaders – Exploits of Jameson, Deere, and Compton – Other prominent personalities – No. 485 Spitfire Squadron – An active period at Biggin Hill – Some typical missions – Checketts' escape from France – No. 485's work under Hume – No. 486 Typhoon Squadron and the interception of coastal raiders – Change to offensive patrols under Scott – An interesting air-sea rescue mission. Fighter operations during early months of 1944.
CHAPTER 8 NIGHT FIGHTERS 210
Decline of the Luftwaffe's night-bomber force – Hitler's demands for reprisals – Renewed German effort during 1943 – The British night-fighter force, its equipment and technique – New Zealanders with this force – Their part in both defence and ‘intruder’ patrols – The work of No. 488 Mosquito Squadron – The ‘Baby Blitz’ against Britain and its failure – Decline of the German Air Force and its effect on Allied preparations for invasion.
CHAPTER 9 PRELUDE TO INVASION 234
Maturing plans – Reorganisation of the Allied air forces – Coningham in charge of Second Tactical Air Force – Other New Zealanders holding senior posts – The pre-invasion air page xi campaign – Bomber Command's attacks on transport and the German aircraft industry – Fighter and fighter-bomber assault on V-weapon sites and transport – The part of the New Zealand squadrons – Typical missions and some individual exploits – Air operations at sea against enemy ships and U-boats – The eve of the landings.
CHAPTER 10 NORMANDY 282
The landings succeed – Strong Allied air support – Weak Luftwaffe reaction – Enemy uncertainty – Covering the advance inland – Highly effective attacks on communications – Crisis in the Allied build-up – Progress of the land battle – The supporting air operations. New Zealanders play their part with Second Tactical Air Force – Achievements of New Zealand squadrons – Attacking enemy ships and U-boats – With Bomber Command in close support, bombing, and minelaying – No. 75 Squadron's varied operations – Allied air power is decisive.
CHAPTER 11 FLYING BOMBS AND ROCKETS 318
German plans are upset – Eventual opening and development of the attack – Its relative failure – Allied counter-measures to the V-1 – The fighter patrols – Their difficulties and achievements – Notable part played by No. 486 Squadron – New Zealand pilots with RAF units – Bombing the launching sites and supply depots – Raids by No. 75 Squadron – The campaign against the V-2 rocket.
CHAPTER 12 FORWARD TO THE RHINE 339
Progress of the land campaign – Marked contrast in Allied and German air support – Bomber Command's missions – The part of No. 75 Squadron – Second Tactical Air Force – Mobile Wings – Fighter and medium-bomber operations – New Zealanders with 2nd TAF – Prominent personalities – The work of Nos. 485, 486, 487, and 488 Squadrons – New Zealanders with Fighter Command.
CHAPTER 13 TRANSPORT AND SPECIAL DUTIES 369
Achievements of Transport Command – Its early development – New Zealanders with the RAF organisation – Operations with No. 44 Group – Atlantic ferrying with No. 45 Group – Transport and supply with Nos. 38 and 46 Groups – Normandy, Arnhem, and the Rhine – Supporting the final advance – Special duties with No. 38 Group and Bomber Command – Dropping supplies and landing agents over Europe – Hazards involved and the success achieved. page xii
CHAPTER 14 BOMBER COMMAND AND THE BATTLE OF GERMANY 387
The battle is renewed – Bomber Command operates at greater advantage – German cities, especially in the Ruhr, heavily attacked – Effect of this onslaught – Enemy communications also bombed – The Dortmund-Ems canal blocked – Controversy over oil targets – Heavier attacks by British bombers – Tirpitz is sunk – The climax. New Zealanders with Bomber Command – Some remarkable experiences – The work of the Mosquito crews – Radio counter-measures – No. 75 Squadron's prominent part. What the bomber offensive achieved – Harris's tribute to his men.
CHAPTER 15 COASTAL COMMAND PATROLS 413
A notable contribution to victory – Last phase of the U-boat war – German plans frustrated – New Zealanders in patrol and attack – The part of No. 490 Squadron – Attacking enemy ships – Prominent New Zealand leaders – No. 489 Squadron in action – New Zealanders share in photo-reconnaissance, air-sea rescue, and ‘met’ flights.
CHAPTER 16 THE LAST PHASE 428
The advance into Germany – Supporting operations by 2nd TAF and Bomber Command – Operation exodus – Last weeks of the war at sea – Final missions of the New Zealand squadrons.
CHAPTER 17 MISSION COMPLETED 442
APPENDICES—
I Principal events of the Second World War (1943–45) with particular reference to air operations in Europe 447
II Strengths and Casualties 455
III Notes on the New Zealand Squadrons 456
IV Principal types of British and German operational aircraft (1943–45) 463
V Glossary 467
VI Bibliography 469