AT BOUGAINVILLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 145, 2 April 1945, Page 4

AT BOUGAINVILLE.

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN. BOUGAINVILLE, March 31. Signs of increased Japanese air activity over New Britain were given added weight yesterday when a Zero made a half-hearted dive at three B.N.Z.A.F. Venturas over Gezelle peninsula. The enemy made one pass without firing, then apparently changed Ids mind, because lie sheered off. Alter keeping iris pilots grounded for many months the enemy has sent up aircraft several limes in the last fortnight, Sightings have been made :yi the Bismareks, but the Japanese have shown no inclination to come 1o grips and Usually make their escape into the clouds. Seeing their 100th air victory in view, New Zealand Corsair pilots are “pawing Ihe ground/' as one observer put it. and an- welcoming Ihe opportunity for aerial action after ;i long period of attacking ground targets only. Coinciding with revived interest by the Japanese in aeronautics in ilu* South-west Pacific- the Tokio radio has announced the arrival in Japan, on a liaison flight, of aircraft, “manufactured in a Rabaul factory. r Tokio’s picture of production lines turning out scores of new aircraft merits scepticism, but it does seem probable that the Japanese are making an effort to recondition aircraft from local remnants. Such planes are so hopelessly outnumbered that their sorties necessarily are confined to sneak raids and possibly to the transport ot necessary supplies to their beleaguered g&tzis&hs.