CORSAIRS FROM PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24679, 24 September 1945, Page 4

CORSAIRS FROM PACIFIC

' RETURN OF FIRST AIRCRAFT BEGINNING OF CONCERTED AIR MOVEMENT (P.A.) AUCKLAND. Sept. 23. The first to return from the Pacific zone since Japan’s surrender, seven Corsair fighter aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force landed at Whenuapai air station yesterday morning, completing a flight of 3338 miles from their base at Los Negros, in the Admiralty Islands. Their return was part of a concerted air movement through which it is intended to bring back to New Zealand as quickly as possible all surplus squadrons not required for garrison duties. The long flight was made by easy stages, stops being made at Bougainville, Guadalcanal Espiritu Santos, New Caledonia, and Norfolk Island. Escorted by two Ventura bombers, piloted by Squadron Leader Cruickshank and Pilot Officer Hamilton, the Corsairs left Norfolk at 8.15 on Saturday morning and arrived at-Whenua-pai just after 11 o’clock. It was originally thought that the aircraft would arrive the previous day and a party of officers, headed by Air Commodore M. W. Buckley, travelled up from Wellington to welcome the returning pilots. They were unable to stay overnight, however, and had to return to Wellington without seeing them. The Corsairs, which represented part of No. 17 Squadron, were led by Flight Lieutenant A. G. Pierard. and other machines were piloted by Flight Lieutenant J. G. Pettigrew. Flying Officer B J. O’Donovan, and Flight Sergeants R. A. Hiare. W. G. Ramage. R. H. Robinson, and D. H. Turnbull.- An eighth Cprsair began the return flight, but developed engine trouble off Guadalcanal A short distance from the coast its engine seized up and the airscrew flew off, but fortunately the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Eccersall, was able to bring his machine down on a reef. Pilots in the other aircraft circling overhead saw him wave that he was safe, and shortly afterwards natives were seen wading out to him. He was later picked up by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Catalina airsea rescue craft. The Corsairs’ tour of duty, which was originally scheduled to last 12 weeks, ran instead for 20. Before the Japanese capitulation the men were engaged in routine patrolling ana strafing of enemy positions. The movement of Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons back from the Pacific is being’ directed by Group Captain Busch, Who arrived at Whenuapai on Saturday in advance of the Corsairs. Catalina aircraft were evacuating sick and wounded prisoners from Rabaul at present, he stated; but one of the strips there was being made serviceable, and it would probably be ready for use by the middle of this week. .... , , “Rabaul is infested with tunnels and caves constructed by the Japanese, he continued, “and the place looks like a regular rabbit-warren. The Japanese there look fit and cheeky—much different from those on _ Bougainville, where there is much sickness. We hope to bring some of the Japanese equipment captured at Rabaul down to New Zealand for exhibition purposes. Most of it is just a copy of British and American designs. There were more Japanese in New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville than had originally been estimated, he continued. ,On New Britain there were 89,291. on New Ireland 12,411. and on Bougainville 21,500. Prisoners of war found in Rabaul included 27 Eurcyieans. 5463 Indian troops. 397 Chinese, 688 Malayans, and 607 Indonesians. The Indians were in particularly bad shape. Echelons 6f aircraft would be returning from the Pacific at intervals of two or three days in future. Just as soon as surplus squadrons could be brought back to New Zealand it would be possible to-bring ground crew personnel home. .