N.Z. AIR UNITS IN PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23940, 6 May 1943, Page 4

N.Z. AIR UNITS IN PACIFIC

SEARCH FOR ENEMY SHIPPING WORK OF PERSONNEL IN SOLOMONS The nature of the work of the Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel stationed at bases in the southwest Pacific varies greatly. Some are flying reconnaissance-bombers, others fighters, and others flying-boats. Some are carrying out sea reconnaissance and patrols, others convoy operations, and others are engaged for the greater part of their time in operational training and exercises. The members of some squadrons—much to their chagrin, it must be said —have as yet seen nothing of the enemy. Others have been under fire from the Japanese, including Japanese land, sea, and air forces, and have had the supreme satisfaction of hitting The New Zealanders in the Solomons have already compiled an impressive record of service. It must be remembered that the primary duty of bomber-reconnaissance aircraft is to search for the enemy—to find his surface ships and submarines, to ascertain as far as possible where they are going, and to give this information to other units which comprise the striking force. They assist in the movements of convoys by carrying out searches for lurking submarines or raiders, and ’f necessary they can bomb such enemy vessels. If they, are attacked by enemy aircraft they can defend themselves with a useful armament, but their chief responsibility is to bring back information, not to conduct private wars of their own. In the succinct words of one pilot, if they are attacked by Japanese fighters they “put the nose down and get to hell out of it.”

They have carried out night bombing raids against Japanese island bases. More important still are the successes against the enemy in which their activities played a leading part. Their reconnaissances have revealed important Japanese shipping movements, and from the information they have reported American air and sea forces in the Solomons area have been able to intercept the enemy and attack with great success. American Tributes

The Americans have paid striking tributes to the co-operation given by the Royal New Zealand Air Force operating in this area. They are impressed by their efficiency, enthusiasm, and particularly by the accuracy of their reports. A high degree of navigational skill is required to locate with certainty the exact position and course of a ship or a group of ships at sea, and unless such are accurate a force sent out to intercept and attack such ships may waste valuable time and petrol on an exasperating search. They may even miss the enemy altogether. The New Zealanders take a great pride in the accuracy of their navigation, and if they locate a group of Japanese ships they are prepared te take bets, not whether the American dive-bombers or heavier bombers will find them, but how many they will sink. Such an actual instance occurred quite recently, and it speaks volumes, not only for the confidence of the New Zealanders in themselves, but also for the mutual confidence between the Allied forces there. Hunting Snipers Quite apart from service activities, life in the Solomons has a peculiar interest—at least it did have until the Japanese were cleared out. There was always the possibility of the stray sniper slipping through the American lines and shooting up a camp, and occasionally all hands would join in a sniper hunt. Many of these proved to be alarms, but one is never very far from the aler,t when the front line is little piode than half a mile away. Then again, one could usually hear boomings and bangings from the forward positions, and although this became too familiar to warrant any notice, there was some satisfaction in replying to a querulous complaint—“Don’t you know there’s a war on?’’ with the brief remark—“ Yes, I can hear it!”

This phase of life has ended. Nevertheless the war has not left there. The Japanese still carry out bombing raids—mostly at night—and our aircraft still go out to attack the Japanese.

The central figure of the Japanese night bombing is “Washing Machine Charlie"—so called because of the peculiar sound of his de-synchronised engines. The title does not, belong to any one individual Japanese—it belongs .to the particular brand of bomber which carries out this type of nuisance raid, His purpose is to keep people awake, rather than to do any great military damage. But how'he pales into insignificance in comparison with the roar of Allied aircraft as they take off in long processions to go about their tasks of smashing airfields, bases, ships, and any other target the Japanese have to offer.