THROUGH THE FLAK

Evening Star, Issue 25169, 8 May 1944, Page 4

THROUGH THE FLAK

MBSN® RAIDS ON RAiAUL GRIM ENEMY DEFENCE OF BASE (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) BOUGAINVILLE, May 5. Although Japanese targets around Rabaul have been burnt and blasted by the ceaseless Allied raids from the Solomons, the enemy is putting up a grim but doomed defence of the once formidable base which threatened the whole of the South Pacific. New Zealand airmen flying Dauntlesses and Avengers report that the anti-aircraft fire which meets them over the airfields hi the supply areas is as fierce as ever, and often verv accurate. Major Roland 1. Smith, DIF.C, commander of a United States Marine Avenger squadron, said after the last trip of his third tour in the area: "It was the most ack-ack I have seen, and possibly the most accurate." The Japanese are matching their wits against the bombers, varying their tactics and changing their gun positions, but tho Allied airmen are confident of wearing them down. The targets are becoming morn difficult to locate, as the wily Japanesp sprav the runways green to match the surroundings and hide supplies in the hilt plantations and jungle. Pin-pointing the target in these conditions calls ; for keen spotting and good judgment. Some New Zealanders" have shown particular skill at this as well as at artillery spotting against Ihe enemy at Bougainville—as a result of army co-operation experience in New Zealand, it, is remarkable what thoy can dp tect through jungle and camouflage. The Japanese gunners try desperately to stave the bombers off the target, first with a screen of heavy fire to. cover the raiders' approach, and then with light automatic fire, which is generally intense and accurate while the aircraft is over the target. " This is the stuff that shake* you," said a New Zealand pilot. After releasing their bombs the aircraft run through a curtain of machine-gun and light automatic fire as they withdraw from the area to stream out over the countryside, strafing all they can see. Returning aircraft have shown how they can take it. Some come back with holes in their wings which are big enough for a man to crawl through, others with two-thirds of thei' elevators shot away or their rudders practically gone. Steering aircraft through these hazards and bringing damaged machine* safely home says a lot for the airmanship of the New Zealand crews.

Squadron-leader H. M. James, of Auckland, has led some outstanding Avenge' attacks one against the Kalili Bay supplv area when his was the only force to reach the target through bad weather, and another against the Lakunai airfield in which 59 homb hits were reported.

Flight-lieutenant M. G. Stubbs. of Wellington, led a determined Avenger raid against Vunakanau airfield, when the ackack was at its heaviest, scoring 51 hits on the runway. Lately Avengers have included gun positions in their targets with marked success, notably against troublesome guns on Hospital Ridge, north of Rabaul. The battle against the guns, however, is mainly the job of Dauntlesses, and a New Zealand squadron under Squadronleader T. McL. de Lang, of Auckland, has put up a fine showing, The dive-bombers' aim is to distract the ack-ack and to throw up as much debris as possible to cover the Avengers' approach on the airstrip or supply target.

" To get in on the target you have to go riefht through the flak and just take it as it comes," said a Dauntless pilot. A gut) position is a pretty small target, and you have to be right on the mark or it is useless. This combat with guns has an individual flavaur. It is you against guns, liko fighter against fighter."