R.N.Z.A.F. ON NEW BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24625, 23 July 1945, Page 6

R.N.Z.A.F. ON NEW BRITAIN

BASE 100 MILES FROM RABAUL CO-OPERATION WITH GROUND FORCES (R.N Z.A.F Official News Service.) JACQUINOT BAY, July 17. Squadrons oi the Royal New Zealand Air Force are now operating from a base on New Britain, separated from the Japanese fortress of Rabaul by fewer than 100 miles of jungle country. The new base is situated at Jacquinot Bay, on the eastern coast of the island, just below the Gazelle Peninsula, which is strongly held by the Japanese centring in Rabaul.

The R.N.Z.A.F.’s move means that ground and air forces wijl now be working in the closest co-operation on New Britain, as they have been doing for some months on Bougrinville. Australian troops are attending to the ground fighting, with the greater part of air support being given by New Z.alnnders.

From their Jacauinot Bay base, squadrons of the R.N.Z.A.F. will be able to concentrate closely on the two Japanese key b:ses in the Bismarcks— Rabaul on New Britain, and Kawieng on New Ireland. Estimates place the total enemy strength in these two bases alone a' more than 40,000.

Backed by some of the roughest and toughest country of the Pacific, the new air base is on the southern tip of Jacquinot Bay. The airstrip itself runs a’ong a bluff, 3CO to 400 feet high, ovcrioakmg a narrow coastal shelf. The in‘cri?r breaks into extremely rugged and mountainous terrain, rising to as high as 6COO feet, cut by deep gorges and covered with dense jungle. The New Zealanders’ camp cuts into the 1000-acre Palmalmal coconut plantation. which shows many signs of wear and tear from Japanese occupation and Allied bombing. When the enemy were driven out of the area, they left behind two dumps, of sea mines in trenches covered by galvanised iron and young coconuts. Arrival of First Body

A Corsair service unit was the first body of New Zealanders to arrive. Their landing ship, laden above and below deck with all their servicing equinment, motor transport, camp material, and personal gear, arrived offshore at midday after a voyage from their former base on Green Island, through a night of heavy rain. Tlie landing ship ran on to the beach, and the strenuous and sweltering job of unloading began. Heavy mud made it hard going as the trucks, jeeps, and bomb-carriers ploughed up the hill to a temporary camp site near the strip. In a scraggy section of the plantation, where secondary growth had been only partly cleared, they hastily ran up their tents, as low, black clouds sweeping in across the bay threatened rain. And the rains came. Jacquinot Bay area has one of the heaviest rainfalls of the Pacific. An average of over 200 inches was recorded at Palmalmal over a period of seven years before the war. and the most for one year was 320 inches. One August, always the wettest month. 102.1 inches of rain fell. An average of 200 days of the year are wet.

Ragged Conditions Conditions were nigged—in great contrast with the well-settled camp from which the airmen had come. The place dripped with moisture. Under foot the mud was thick, black, and cloggy. Puddled by drenching. rams and struggling vehicles, it fastened to boots and soiled clothes. Eor a tent floor it was not nleasant. But the men took it cheerfully and lost no time in settling in and establishing themselves comfortably. The food was good, which helped a lot. Until they have their own messes and kitchens built they are eating with Australian units. Main grouse at Jacquinot at the start was the enforced wearing of long trousers, anklets, and shirts at all times, as a precaution against scrub typhus. It is not known whether the disease is prevalent in the area, but bush mokkas, the mites which carry It, are widespread in eastern New Britain. Permission has now been given for the wearing of shorts. The usual precautions against malaria are also taken. Snakes are not numerous in eastern New Britain. A death adder is the only venomous type, and the python is the commonest Crocodiles ,m.r fest the tidal streams. . The New Zealanders were quick to find their way round, and quick to make friends' with the Australians. It was Sunday, the day after their arrival, and the men who escaped working parties were out sight-seeing, or trying out the nick of the swimming pools. The Australians held a regatta tn the bay, which was dotted with small craft of all shapes and sizes.