SURPRISE ATTACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 7

SURPRISE ATTACK

ON JAP BARRACKS

N.Z. AND U.S. AIRCRAFT

R.K.Z.A.F. Official News Service. SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC, Feb. 8. The discovery of a new and important enemjj target in New Ireland took New Zealand Corsairs over Japanese territory in a major strike —the biggest operation of their tour to date. The raid, which was a surprise attack on a large Japanese barracks, was made oy our Corsairs and a strong formation of United States Marine Mitchell bombers, and was one of the best co-ordinated operations of the last few weeks. The comparatively light opposition put up by the enemy from the ground indicated that the Japanese were taken by surprise. The strike .was the direct result of. a splendid piece of observation by a New Zealand fighter-pilot, FlightSergeant O. J. Marshall, of Napier. During a patrol over Kavieng, with Flight-Sergeant D. R. Loan, of Dunedin, as his "number two," he observed some huts about 80 feet in length cunningly concealed from view beneath dense vegetation. He reported that they would not ordinarily be visible from any angle other than the one from which he chanced to approach. Assuming the huts to be an enemy barracks, FlightSergeant Marshall reported his discovery on his return and the following day a reconnaissance patrol led by Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Hutton, of Wellington, confirmed this belief, and advised that the personnel area was heavily guarded by ack-ack positions. Low lievel Attack Considerable importance was attached to the strike, in which the New Zealand Corsairs were assigned the A.A. positions, their job being to silence the guns for the period of the Mitchells' low-level attack. Each carrying two half-ton bombs, the Corsairs approached their target in line-abreast formation from 6000 ft, fanning out into pairs over the target and gliding swiftly downward to release their bombs at 500 feet, Two enemy guns were possibly destroyed by four bombs which found their marks, and six bombs fell within 20 or 30 yards of the target. Machinegun and 20 mm fire was observed from one emplacement, but opposition from the ground was only slight, indicating that the raid had succeeded as' a surprise attack. The Mitchells swept in at tree-top level, streaking over the enemy huts in two waves of nine aircraft. A good bomb coverage was obtained. Debris was flung up as delayed-action bombs straddled the target and jnud spattered the wind-shields of the attacking aircraft. American "pilots reported signs of habitation as they approached; well cultivated gardens were in evidence and there were well-worn tracks linking the buildings. None of the aircraft was hit, the Japanese being too surprised to man their defences fully until the attack was almost over. Wonderful Guide to Target At a conference afterwards at Operational Headquarters, the American formation leader said the burst from the Corsairs, whi<ih were instructed to release their bombs at a given moment, were a wonderful guide to the target. The Corsairs which took part in the strike were from a Royal New Zealand Air Force fighter squadron commanded by Squadron-Leader B. H. Thomson, of Gore, which has been hammering at Japanese targets in. New Ireland daily since its arrival on this island at the beginning of January. The formation was led by Flight-Lieutenant Hutton and the other section leader was FlyingOfficer A. A. Watson, of Auckland. Operational chiefs agreed later that the strike was a perfectly co-ordin-ated and well-timed attack.