Rayne Dennis "Joe" Schultz

"GANGED HIM INTO THE SEA," AIRMAN TELLS OF NAZI'S FATE

F.O. Vernon Williams and F.O. Schultz Tell of Terrific
Combats in Which They Destroyed Three Bombers
(By Louis V. Hunter, Canadian Press Staff Writer)
An Airfield in England, Dec. 13. 1943—(CP Cable)—Rayne Denis Schultz, a 20-year-old R.C.A.F. flying officer from Bashaw, Alta., who destroyed three of the four German bombers shot down over Britain Friday night, is a modest fellow and so is his navigator, F.O. Vernon Williams, 24, of 132 Cavell avenue, Hamilton, Ont.
Three Fierce Encounters
The two, who have been flying together for a year, seemed surprised Saturday that so many newsmen should want to crowd around them to hear how it was done. The first German plane was left a burning mass on the sea. The second was blown up at such close range that their night-fighting Mosquito barely avoided colliding with pieces of the wreckage. The third was shot down with their last bullet.
The Schultz-Hamilton plane was so badly damaged after the three combats that Schultz had to make an emergency landing at a strange airfield.
Schultz, whose father emigrated to Canada from his native Germany, let Williams relate most of the story and the Hamilton redhead started off by extolling the "guts" of his slim, six-foot pilot who quit the farm to join the R.C.A.F. in 1941.
"When we went down after the third Jerry we knew the Hun was a hot flyer, particularly when he got in the first smack," Williams said. "Rayne got in a burst right after, but I was all for pulling out, for our port engine had caught fire and conked and Jerry's shells had also bashed in the instrument panel all over Rayne's lap.”
“Ganged Him" Into Sea
"But the guy wouldn't quit. “I'll get that so and so if it's the last thing I do” he shouted and poured on the coal. We followed the Jerry right down to the deck (sea) and Rayne's last burst of ammunition, the last we had, ganged him into the sea and we pulled up just in time to miss going in ourselves."
Schultz said it all happened so quickly he couldn't recall all his impressions except he remembered shouting "whoopee" after blasting his first Dornier and also that "I felt very sick of my stomach when the excitement was over."
Schultz and Williams crossed together from Canada as sergeants a year ago and were commissioned at the same time. Friday night's combat was their second. They destroyed a Dornier in their first brush with the enemy.
Williams said a great part of their success is due to Schultz' keen night vision. "He continually picks out things at night that I can't see," he said.

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SCHULTZ, F/O Rayne Dennis (J16359) - DFC - No.410 Squadron
Award effective 1 January 1944 as per London Gazette dated 14 January 1944 and
AFRO 410/44 dated 25 February 1944.

WILLIAMS, F/O Vernon Albert (J9577) - DFC - No.410 Squadron
Award effective 1 January 1944 as per London Gazette dated 14 January 1944 and
AFRO 410/44 dated 25 February 1944.

As pilot and observer respectively, Flying Officers Schultz and Williams have completed several sorties at night and have displayed a high degree of skill, courage and determination. During one sortie one night in December 1943, they destroyed three Dornier 217s, a feat which well illustrates their fine fighting qualities. In other sorties they have attacked locomotives and bridges.

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R.C.A.F.'S BAG DURING WEEK INCLUDES SUB

Ottawa, Dec. 17, 1943 (CP). — Mosquito pilots of the, R.C.A.F. overseas destroyed one Heinkel 111 and damaged another during the last week, while the two-man crew of another Mosquito shot down three of four bombers destroyed over England last Friday and a Coastal Command Flying Fortress, whose second pilot was a Canadian, sank a U-boat after two depth-charge attacks.
In addition, the R.C.A.F. said in a summary of overseas operations tonight, Spitfire squadrons of the RCAF were active last Monday carrying out sweeps in support of United States Flying Fortresses and Liberators hammering targets in Northwest Germany. Two squadrons later escorted Marauders of the United States Army Air Force in an attack on Schipol airfield in Amsterdam.
Last Tuesday PO. C. B. Witt of Morden, Man., shared in the victory of a Coastal Command Beaufighter squadron off the coast of Norway. Two Beaufighters were patrolling when they saw a Dornier three-engined, long-range flying boat ahead. They immediately attacked it and set it on fire.
Crew of the Fighter Command Mosquito which destroyed three bombers last Friday was FO. R. D. Schultz of Bashaw, Alta., and FO. Vernon Williams of Hamilton, the plane's pilot and navigator respectively.
They took off to intercept enemy bombers attacking England and shot down a Dornier 217, blowing it up in mid-air. They then encountered and destroyed another DO 217; accounting for their third victim after their own aircraft had been damaged and was flying on only one engine.
New Base Effective.
The Coastal Command plane which sank the U-boat was captained by an Englishman. The submarine was the first victim to fall to a squadron operating from newly acquired bases in the Azores. FO. D. Thompson of Westmount, Que., second pilot, described the second attack against the U-boat as "a beautiful straddle."
The Heinkel 111 shot down Sunday was destroyed by Flt. Lt. Robert Kipp of Kamloops, B.C. The second Heinkel was severely damaged by FO. J. Johnson of Omemee. Kipp's navigator was FO. Pete Huletsky of Montreal and Johnson's was FO. J. Gibbons of Vancouver. The combat occurred in daylight over France.
Squadrons commanded by Sqdn. Ldr. E. L. (Jeep) Neal, D.F.C., of Quebec; Sqdn. Ldr. I. G. Ormston, D.F.C., of Montreal; Sqdn. Ldr. George C. Keefer, D.F.C., of Charlottetown; Sqdn. Ldr. R. A. Buckham, D.F.C. (United States), and Sqdn. Ldr. G. M. Magwood, D.F.C., of Toronto carried out sweeps on Monday.
In close escort of United States heavy bombers were squadrons commanded by Sqdn. Ldr. G. W. Northcott, D.F.C., of Minnedosa, Man., and Sqdn. Ldr. F. E. Green, D.F.C, of Toronto.
The squadrons commanded by Buckham and Northcott escorted the American marauders in their attack on Schipol airfield.

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Hamilton Airman in Newsreel

Jan 10, 1944 - Flying Officer Vernon Williams, of this city, and the pilot of his speedy night fighter, shot down three enemy planes over Britain one night recently. The feat was revealed in a Canadian Press dispatch to the Spectator.
At the Palace theatre this week, part of the newsreel is devoted to F.O. Williams and P.O. E. J. Schultz, Alberta, pilot of the plane. It is a splendid piece of photography and many Hamiltonians will be anxious to see it.
The newsreel will be shown at 2:25, 5:30 and 8:25 o'clock Monday to Thursday of this week inclusive. F.O. Williams is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Williams, 132 Cavell Avenue.

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Canadian Fliers Down Hun Planes in France

London, Feb, 14 1944 - Canadian and Allied planes today continued the almost daily bombardment of Nazi installations in Northern France while R.A.F. Typhoons struck an enemy airfield and other military targets and United States fighter bombers raided the Gilze-Rijen airdrome in the Netherlands. All the bombers and the American fighters returned without loss, but the R.A.F. lost four fighters in the day's operations.
The raid on the Nazi Northern France installations by R.A.F., R.C.A.F. and Allied Bostons, Mitchells and Mosquito bombers was the 42nd daylight pounding given them in 56 days. Spitfires provided the escort.
FO. R. K. Hayward of St. John's, Nfld., destroyed a Messerschmitt 210 today during a sweep by R.C.A.F. Spitfires over Northern France in support of Mosquito bombers. Hayward found the enemy close to the ground, dived and destroyed the plane with a short burst. "I saw two Germans jump out, but their parachutes did not open," Hayward said. Canadian planes made the sweeps without loss.
Canadians flying R.A.F, Mitchells said the bombing of the Pas-de-Calais area targets was deadly despite heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire. There was no fighter opposition. Flt. Sgt. Stew Weaver of Melfort, Sask., said he thought the squadron with which he flew "really did a job."
Vichy radio said 25,000 persons had been evacuated from the area to another, department of France.
The Gilze-Rijen base is used by the Germans to launch interceptors against Allied fleets bound for Germany, a task for which Hitler is apparently saving his fighter force. It was the 15th blow in 18 days by the United States strategic air force, and the second attack in five days on Gilze-Rijen, last on Feb. 10.
British fighters bagged at least four German planes during offensive patrols off France and over Northern France, one falling, to two Spitfires that chased the German around church spires and over rooftops.
Canadians Down Raiders
German planes poured a heavy rain of incendiary and explosive bombs on the London area and parts of Southeast England Sunday night, and Berlin claimed "several hundred Planes" made "another concentrated attack" on the centre, of London., British officials estimated 80 planes came over, with 15 penetrating to the capital. Six were reported downed, two by R.C.A.F. Mosquitos, all of which returned safely to their bases.
One of the raiders was shot down by Sqdn. Ldr. J. D. Somerville of Parry Sound. His observer was FO. D.G. Robinson of Transcona, Man. The other fell to FO. Rayne Denis Schultz of Bashaw, Alta., who has as observer Flt. Lt. V.A. William, of 132 Cavell Ave., Hamilton, Ont. The Schultz-Williams victory was their fifth as a night fighter team. They destroyed a Junkers S8 after a six-minute battle. Their aircraft was riddled and the engine and gasoline tanks holed before the enemy craft plunged in flames to the sea.
Schultz said the enemy pilot "was evidently dead before the enemy machine started its final dive but the gunner poured withering fire into us."
"I could actually see the gunner swinging in his turret, firing at us," Williams added.
Schultz and Williams each received the D.F.C. last December after shooting down three aircraft in one night. They have been flying as a team for more than a year.
Downed One, Damaged Another
Somerville, who is 33, and his observer were on their first operational flight together. They sighted an enemy plane at 18,000 feet over the sea. After being severely hit, the enemy disintegrated in midair. Later, the pair damaged another enemy plane with a short burst of fire.
Another Canadian, WO. I. E. Nelson of North Battleford shared a destruction of a Messerschmitt 109 during a fighter sweep over France early today. The enemy plane was brought down jointly by Nelson and an English flight sergeant after a chase inland.
Two churches, a school and many houses in one thickly populated residential area were burned out in London as a result of the Nazi Incendiaries. An East Anglian town suffered what was termed probably its heaviest loss of the war. Stores, two hotels and a theatre were hit.

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Canadian Airman Shoots Down Fourth

London, March 11. 1944 —(CP Cable)— F.O. Dennis Schultz, lanky night fighter from Bashaw, Alta., who won the D.F.C. for shooting down three German aircraft in one night last December, destroyed a Junkers 88 in a recent raid on this country, raising his score to four, it was announced today.   -  (Sometimes the news was not always up to date with itself. This story above, one month earlier, has already reported Schultz's 5th kill ;)

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MEMBER OF FAMOUS TEAM OF AIRMEN HOME ON LEAVE

F.-Lt. Williams With F.O. Shultz Shot Down Three Nazi Bombers in Single Night
In the "cat and mouse game" of aircraft night fighting, according to Flt.-Lieut. Vernon Williams, D.F.C., Hamilton navigator returned from England after a tour of operations with the Cougar Squadron, "you've almost got to lay the enemy down in a town square before the air force acknowledges your kill." Member of the crew of a Mosquito night fighter which blasted five Hun planes from the skies over Britain, Flt.-Lieut. Williams was one of eight veteran airmen from Hamilton arriving home late yesterday after completing eventful tours of air operations overseas.
Yesterday was an important day for Hamilton for the combined operational record of the returning airmen was the greatest of any party to arrive back from Britain since the outset of the war. In addition, there was the record of enemy planes damaged or destroyed.
Flight-Lieut. Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Williams, 132 Cavell Avenue, is a graduate of Central High School of Commerce and former employee of the Steel Company of Canada. After 22 months with the Cougar Night Fighter Squadron, he was posted back to Canada four days in advance of the Allied landings in Normandy.
Took Invasion Calmly
It was interesting to observe the British reaction to the news of the invasion, he said. For months ahead every one in Britain had been waiting and since the invasion was inevitable, they received it in a matter of fact sort of way.
The business of night fighting, Flight-Lieut. Williams said, fighting is a "cat and mouse game," where you discern another aircraft and determine its type in the split seconds before firing commences. "It's tough and at times monotonous, but the fact that I was in Mosquitoes made it easier to take."
The purpose of the night fighter is to intercept enemy bombers over the south coast of England or over the Channel. Members of the squadron work from dusk to dawn, waiting beside a telephone or doing three and four-hour "stooge" patrols to see what the enemy's up to.
Banged in the Tail
On one such mission, Flight-Lieut. Williams, flying with his regular pilot, Flight-Lieut Ray Schultz, a native of Alberta, came in behind a number of Dornier 217's on their way to bomb English targets. "We coasted along behind them and they probably thought we were one of them. Suddenly, I saw one of the aircraft sitting up ahead. He didn't know anything until we banged him in the tail." He crashed in flames.
The story of how Flt.-Lt. Williams and his pilot got three planes in one night has been told often. "But its pretty much luck," according to the Hamilton officer. "Its luck being in the area where the enemy is, and sometimes its luck seeing and identifying him first"
Narrow Escape
The toughest scrap of all was the last one in which he was involved. He had come within a matter of feet of a Ju-88, blasted it, and it began to “peel over" quickly. Ordinarily, his pilot would have gone away underneath the aircraft, but it fell too quickly, and as the Mosquito was lifted to pass over the enemy, a burst from its rear gun sprayed the Mosquito from wing tip to wing tip underneath.
"The engineers said they couldn't understand how we got home. One motor was gone, one was faltering and the kite was badly mauled generally."
Flight-Lieut. Williams described how carefully the R.C.A.F. and R.A.F. carefully study reports of kills. It was almost like requiring an affidavit from the German shot down, he said, because, if there were prisoners, they were questioned to determine if engine trouble, ack ack or British fighters had sent it down.

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SCHULTZ, F/L Rayne Dennis, DFC (J16359) - Bar to DFC - No.410 Squadron
Award effective 6 July 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 1453/45 dated 14 September 1945.

This officer has at all times displayed great skill and courage in air operations. He has completed a large number of sorties and has invariably pressed home his attacks with much success. Flight Lieutenant Schultz has been responsible for the destruction of eight enemy aircraft at night, two of them during a patrol in April 1945. This officer has set a splendid example of keenness, ability and gallantry.

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--- Canadian Aces ---