FIGHT WITH JAPANESE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 70, 2 January 1943, Page 3

FIGHT WITH JAPANESE.

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN IN INDIA * » (Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, December 30. New Zealanders flying Hurricanes at Chittagong had several encounters with the Japanese, states the Air Ministry News Agency. They are Flying Officers Roy Lyrav, of Auckland, 1. * H Duff, of New Plymouth, and Warrant Officer J. V. Mclvor, of Hastings. Flyiim Officer Duff said: “I saw nine bombers’ below me attacking an aerodrome I got behind them and started popping off. I saw a Japanese lose r a„ engine cowling when my ammunition ran out, Mclvor probably got one which I saw on fire. “The next day we made a. head-on attack on a formation of seven. We got one. I was wild when my guns jammed.’'’ • . .. Flying Officer Lyray, who finished off a Japanese fighter, said: “The Jap- ’ anese, who had the advantage of me, was chasing me in and out of t'he valleys, sometimes below and sometimes above* trees. He kept hitting men through the cockpit and wings, when I saw a ridge ahead with trees. T flew’ straight at the trees and pulled I up just over their tops, after which T noticed, no more shots so T kicked on the rudder and looked hack. “I coiild only see cloud, smoke and dirt, so he must have gone smack into the trees, One of my wheels had a burst tyre, the speed indicator had cone, and the glycol pipe had burst. ,/ but I landed safelv and counted several bullet Holes.”