KITTYHAWKS AND ZEROS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23746, 18 September 1942, Page 5

KITTYHAWKS AND ZEROS

U.S. FIGHTERS BETTER ARMOURED (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P'.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 17. "I have yet to meet an Australian or American pilot who would trade his Kittyhawk for a Zero," said Major-General G. C. Kenny, newlyappointed commander of the Allied Air Forces in the south-west Pacific, replying to a suggestion from the United States that American fighter? were inferior. He said that Kittyhawks were better armoured than Zeros, and had bullet-proof tanks. "This enables us to get to close quarters with the Japanese and slug it out," he said. "When a Zero catches a good burst from our fighters he just crumples up, but I have seen one of our aeroplanes return to its base with almost 300 bullet holes in the fuselage." Major-General Kenny said that generally Japanese pilots were highly trained, skilful, and daring, but their air force contained a strange mixture of good and bad flyers. Questioned about the progress of the air war in this theatre, he said: "It would be the biggest mistake in the world to underestimate the opposition, but Allied airmen are shooting down more aeroplanes than they are losing themselves." FIGHTING AT MILNE ! BAY AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS' STORIES (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 17. The savage nature of the fighting at Milne Bay, in south-east New Guinea, is emphasised by further stories from wounded Australian troops. One A.I.F. man was found dead with more than 30 Japanese dead round him. Two Japanese had had their heads smashed in with a tommygun which the Australian had used as a club when his ammunition gave out. A giant militia private named Ryan is reported to have killed 'ls Japanese before receiving a bayonet wound in each leg and being wounded in the chest by a grenade. Afterwards he walked to a dressing station for treatment. Round the bodies of 11 Australians were found 24 dead Japanese. Returning troops speak of the heroism of doctors who operated on wounded soldiers hour after hour amid slushy mud and under shellfire. One doctor