IN NEW BRITAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 61, 21 December 1943, Page 2

IN NEW BRITAIN.

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN’S PART.

FIERCE BATTLES OVER RABAUL.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 20. Units, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force have been taking paf’t in the new Allied attack on New Britain. Announcing this to-night, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) said that New Zealand Warhawks had been engaged in fierce fighter actions over Rabaul. “New Zealand’s share in the air war in the south and south-west Pacific has been steadily growing,”, said the Minister, “and the Royal New Zealand Air Force can to-day be counted as an important factor ,in these operations. Apart from our fighter squadrons, which have been taking hqavy toll of the enemy, our new attack bomber units have been striking at enemy bases with good results. It will not be long before we have divebomber squadrons in action, and our new torpedo-bombers and their crews are now being prepared in the Dominion to join the attack early next year.

“In their latest actions, New Zealand fighters have brought the total score of our Warhawks to approximately 70 aircraft destroyed, and many more damaged and probably destroyed. It is not possible at the present time to give full details of the latest operations, which are still proceeding, but it will be a matter of pride to all New Zealanders that the R.N.Z'.A.F. is, forming part of the spearhead of the attack.”