AIR COMBAT TRICKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 60, 20 December 1943, Page 2

AIR COMBAT TRICKS.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5. The United States Marines’ No. ; aerial killer of Japanese flyers state* in Washington that the enemy learning combat tactics from his Am erican opponents. First - Lieutenanj Kenneth A. Walsh, just back fron fighting in the Solomons, where hj shot down 20 Japanese planes ana probably destroyed four others, tola of Ills experiences at a press confeil ence. Lieutenant Walsh, although only 28 years old, has been in till Marines almost 10 years. He rankl second to Major Joseph Foss in till record of enemy planes downed, M;| jor Foss’ score being 26. I Here are some.of Walsh’s observsl tions: The Japanese pilot is “wisinl up,” abandoning stunt flying as an ill dividual and adopting the aerial tearl tactics used by American flyers. Thl Corsair F4UI fighter, widely used b| the Marines in the Solomons area, 1 “tops,” not so manoeuvrable as thl Japanese Zero, but faster and bettel armed. “The Japanese will kill y o l any way he can, in a parachute, il the water—hut, our feelings now ail quite mutual; they ! started it, anl we’ll finish it.” . I