Squadron Leader Hansford Ward Chambers

Chambers, born in Opotiki on 24 February 1915, was a farmer before he joined the RNZAF in November 1940. Having gained his wings in New Zealand as a Sergeant he sailed for the United Kingdom to join 154 Squadron in November 1941.

The unit had just been formed at Fowlmere with Spitfire IIA’s but did not become operational until late February 1942 when it began flying convoy patrols. (See Donald Carlson) Having been commissioned in June 1942 Chambers participated in the Squadron’s first victory - a Do 217 shot down over Dieppe on August 19 and shared by no less than nine pilots. In October the Squadron prepared to go overseas and in early November moved to Gibraltar to take part in the invasion of North Africa. 154 landed at Djidjelli airfield in Algeria on 12 November 1942, one of the first Spitfire Squadrons to arrive. 
 
The next day Chambers shot down a Ju 88 and three days later destroyed another. 
 
He was on a convoy patrol off Algiers on 28 November when five Italian SM 79s approached to bomb. Chambers attacked and shot down four of them and before running out of ammunition chased off the fifth one. His Spitfire was damaged by return fire during the engagement. For this action he was awarded the DFC in December. 
 
On 3 April 1943 Chambers damaged an FW190 and in June he was posted to 242 Squadron, then in Malta, in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. On the day of the Allied landings, 10 July, Chambers shot down a Macchi 200. 
 
Shortly after this the unit moved across to Sicily and subsequently to the Italian mainland. Throughout his time with 242 Chambers was a flight commander. He did not score any further victories, and ended the war as a Squadron Leader with seven enemy aircraft destroyed and another shared.