Calling New Zealand; Air Battle conversation. 1943-07-29.

Rights Information
Year
1943
Reference
177243
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1943
Reference
177243
Media type
Audio
Series
D series, ca. 1935-1950s.
Categories
Radio programs
Sound recordings
War radio programs
Duration
00:12:44
Credits
RNZ Collection
Scott, Desmond James, 1918-1997, Speaker/Kaikōrero
New Zealand. National Broadcasting Service (estab. 1936, closed 1946), Broadcaster

Side 1: Calling New Zealand, With the New Zealanders in Britain Part 2. [Part 1 is not held in the collection. Recording begins mid-sentence.]

Flying Officer Arthur Colville, RNZAF of Christchurch talks about taking part in British fund-raising for the war effort. He talks about taking part in "Wings Week" and speaking to large crowds and inspecting Air Training Corps cadets. He says he was very nervous about speaking to them. At Loughborough he arranged for Jean Batten to speak, and she helped collect a large amount of money, drawing a large crowd and signing autographs.

A female announcer then introduces Squadron Leader Desmond Scott, DFC and bar, of Greymouth, leader of the New Zealand Typhoon squadron. He has been lecturing to thousands of people around the country. He says he doesn't pride himself as a speaker and he was reluctant about being asked to take part in "Wings for Victory Week" speaking engagements. He says he always feels inadequate lecturing the average Briton as they are enduring so much in the war. He talks about giving a lecture when two German planes flew over, and were later shot down by two boys from his squadron. He is also visiting aircraft factories to encourage production and is always welcomed by the workers.

Side 2: A feature programme of actuality recordings of radio telephone communications during air battle, involving a New Zealand Spitfire squadron, 29 Jul 1943. [Poor shortwave audio quality but most radio communications are repeated by the BBC announcer]
The BBC announcer describes watching a bombing raid at a command centre, with coloured markers being moved on a map to mark German fighters and Allied aircraft. They are moved as radio communications indicate.
Actuality of a pilot's radio communications are heard.
A French pilot calls to say he has seen 12 enemy aircraft and gives their position.
The New Zealander leading a Spitfire Squadron calls for help in dealing with the German fighters.
The Germans engage but the Allied pilots get the upper hand and the New Zealander is heard saying "I am going down on a couple of 190s" as he dives down on the German fighters.
Nine German aircraft were destroyed in the engagement with the New Zealanders and Frenchman unhurt and the American bombers they were escorting got to their target.
The controller is heard calling the aircraft home. All the Spitfires return safely over the Channel.

The announcer ends by saying "This is just one operation on one day but for the first time, you heard it for yourselves."