Pilot Officer Eric Steele Doherty

Eric Doherty was born in Gisborne on 29 July 1922 and was a student when he joined the RNZAF in September 1941. Posted to Britain as a sergeant pilot, he joined Hurricane-equipped 242 Squadron in North Africa in early 1943.

In June 1943 the unit moved to Malta to prepare for the invasion of Sicily. Prior to the landings, which began during the night of 9-10 July, the unit flew offensive sweeps and escorted bombers attacking targets on Sicily. On one such operation Doherty shared in the destruction of a Ju 88 with three other pilots. 
 
Ten days after the invasion, the Squadron moved from Malta to Lentini East airfield in eastern Sicily. On July 25 1943 the Squadron’s Wing, led by New Zealander Wing Commander Colin Gray, took off for a sweep of the Milazzo area on Sicily’s north-east coast. It had been reported that German Junkers 52 transports would be landing supplies on the beach at Cap Milazzo. Hoping for complete surprise, Gray led the Wing there at low altitude, passing west of Mount Etna. 
 
The thirty three Spitfires arrived as the transports were circling to land under the escort of German and Italian fighters. Two squadrons, including Doherty’s, went for the transports and one climbed to deal with the fighters. In the action which developed, twenty-one transports and five fighters were destroyed. Doherty, with three Ju52’s, had the highest individual score of the day. 
 
On 3 September 1943 British and Canadian troops landed in southern Italy and later in the month 242 Squadron moved to Asa, on the Italian mainland. In December 1943 it retired to Syria for a rest, returning to an airfield in Corsica in April 1944 to fly operations in support of the Army in Italy. 
 
On 10 May Doherty, by now holding the rank of Warrant Officer, destroyed a Bf 109. 
 
He added an FW 190 to his tally on the 25th during a sweep over Viterbo and two Bf 109’s over Elba on 10 June. 
 
He was subsequently awarded the DFM and commissioned as a Pilot Officer before being posted to 92 Squadron, also based in Italy. He was to score no further victories, and ended the war with seven enemy aircraft destroyed and one shared. Doherty was also awarded the DFC (US). 
 
He died in Australia on the 19th June 1979.