KAVIENG POUNDED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 147, 23 June 1945, Page 6

KAVIENG POUNDED

AIR COMMODORE'S FLIGHT

AUCKLANDERS IN CREW R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service EMIRAU, June 16. An interested spectator of a bombing raid on Kavdeng was Air Commodore Sir Robert Clark-Hall, K.8.E., CMG D.5.0., Air Officer commanding No. 1 (Islands) Group, who celebrated his birthday in the Pacific; by accompanying crews of a New Zealand Ventura squadron on a morning strike against targets round the Japanese fortified town. Sir Robert was paying a farewell visit to Emirau-based units under his command. , ~ The air commodore, who took his place with the crews at the briefing prior to take-off, flew in a Ventura captained by Flight-Lieutenant M. J. Mulirier, of Auckland, who was among the first New Zealand airmen to enter the Pacific war. Fhght-Lieu-tenant Milliner flew with the first R.N.Z.A.F. Hudson squadron and took part earlier in the Singapore campaign, being evacuated through Java and Sumatra. This is his fourth overseas tour of operations. : Among Milliner's crew W€Ee Pilot-Officer L Wl Robyns (Wellington), navigator, PilotOfficer E. B. Bouiton (Auckland), wireless operator, and Flight-Ser-geants H. P. Te Hira (Hokianga) and i A E. Bush (Waiuku), air gunners. ; The attacking aircraft, a formation from a squadron commanded by Wing-Commander A. A. N. Breckon, DF C of Auckland, left for a target in the Rabaul area, but bad weather forced a change of plan and the aircraft made instead for Kavieng, New Ireland, where they attacked a target in the town area from 9000 feet. Sir Robert said afterwards that he appreciated the opportunity of taking part to a sortie on his last visit to the area. He paid a tribute to tae work of the bomber crew during the mission. . .