SUPPLY AREA BLASTED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 260, 31 July 1944, Page 6

SUPPLY AREA BLASTED

N.Z. Squadron’s Good Work (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) BOUGAINVILLE, July 29. Japanese on New Britain recently established a new supply area at Cape Lambert. Evidently they had certain ideas about prolonging the war in those parts. One squadron of the R.N.Z.A.F. took the opposite view. The argument was short and sharp. It was violent while it lasted, but the new supply base is no more. This New Zealand squadron flies Avenger torpedo-bombers. On this occasion, ns on all others, there was grim determination behind their efforts, and the bombing was on a spectacular scale. Eight buildings were destroyed and a dozen fires counted. From two of these black smoke billowed up to a height of 1500 feet. The whole area was furiously ablaze when the New Zealanders headed for home. They had fighter cover while diving to the attack. Japanese gunners kept up a heavy fire from anti-aircraft batteries, but this did not prevent the New Zealand pilots from bombing the target. The first to was Squadron Leader M. Wilkes, Nelson. wJiose first: bomb found the centre of the area, demolishing a large building housing various supplies. The succeeding pilots were as successful as Wilkes, and the New Zealanders came home in high spirits. The distinction of being chosen to make the initial bombing of the new target was theirs, and they fully lived up to the occasion.