HEAVY BOMBER SAVED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 72, 22 September 1943, Page 6

HEAVY BOMBER SAVED

N. 2. FIGHTER PILOTS

(Special P.A. Correspondent.)

American appreciation has been expressed at the prompt action of two New Zealand fighter pilots who are considered to have saved a Liberator bomber of the United States Army Air Corps from almost certain destruction by a pack of Zeros while returning from a strike against Kahili. Both pilots, Flying Officer M. T. Vanderpump, of Wellington, and Flight Sergeant J. E. Miller, of Waihi, are members of a New Zealand Warhawk squadron.

With' one motor out of commission following intense action, one of a group of Liberators returning from Kahili gradually fell behind the formation, and- was promptly singled out: by six or seven Japanese fighters for concentrated attack. New Zealanders were among the escorting fighters, and in response to a call for assistance from the Liberator's crew, Flying Officer Vander,pump and Flight Sergeant. Miller pulled out of the formation. Two miles behind the rest of the Allied aircraft, the solitary Liberator was being* harried by the Japanese fighters. The Zerps were, attacking from all angles, without fighter oppositionj and the bomber's plight was real. The arrival of the two New Zealand Warhawks, however, and a couple of bursts from their guns, kept the Zeros at a respectful distance, and the Japanese, after one or two feints, gave up the chase. With the two Warhawks a special escort, the Liberator reached her base safely and without further damage.