N.Z. AIRMEN’S SUCCESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 January 1944, Page 2

N.Z. AIRMEN’S SUCCESS

THREE ZEROS CRASHED

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.)

NEW GEORGIA, January 24. New Zealand fighter pilots flying Warhawks continue to engage the enemy in spirited combats over the Rabaul area, and add steadily to their score of successes. Recently, while providing close cover for Dauntless and Avenger dive-bombers they destroyed three Zeros without loss. The dive-bombers were out on a raiding mission to destroy enemy shipping in Simpson harbour. The New Zealand Warhawks formed part of the large fighter escort with orders to keep Japanese Zeros from interfering. The fight was fierce while it lasted, with most of the New Zealand pilots at some stage coming to grips with the enemy, and dealing out telling bursts from their machine-guns. One formation of 12 New Zealand Warhawks sighted about 50 Zeros waiting to pounce on the bombers at. the start of their dive. With the advantage of numbers, the enemy tried to break through the New Zealand formation, initiating a series of determined attacks. The New Zealanders kept their protective screen intact, fighting the enemy off each lime ho pressed in. Three of the attacking Zeros were’ shot down, and others damaged. Sergeant C. B. Grubb, of Auckland, raked one Zero from stem lo stern with concentrated fire. On the impact of this well-directed and determined hail of lead the Japanese turned over and swirled down out of control, belching thick black smoke. Flying Officer A. L. Parlane, of Hamilton, outfoughi another Zero, which was last seen burning on the water. Manoeuvring on to the tail of a Zero, Sergeant E. P. Shorthouse, of Auckland, followed it down in a steep dive to within 50 feet of the water, his guns firing all the time. The enemy was fiercely ablaze when he hit the sea.

Another Warhawk flight guarding Avengers fended off weaker attacks initiated by another 20 Zeros from a different quarter, but the results of this attack were not observed. With three Zeros knocked out in a similar type of raid on an airfield a few days earlier, and two recent probables confirmed, New Zealand fighter squadrons in the Pacific- now have a score of 89 Japanese aircraft destroyed.

ALBATROSS AS COMPANION

(R.N.Z.A.F, Official News Service)

NEW GEORGIA

A one-legged albatross tagged along with Lieutenant David Scott, an American Hellcat pilot, for four of the eight days he was adrift on the Pacific in a lifecraft. A short time ago Lieutenant Scott was rescued from the sea after being spotted and reported by R.N.Z.A.F. Ventura bombers.

h lin Albert,” said Lieutenant Scott. “He would sit on the edge ol the boat and we got real pally. It was pretty lonely out there, with only the sea and the sky, and it was good to have something to talk to, even if he could not talk back.” Albert and the airman met on Lieutenant Scott’s first night at. sea alter he had been forced to land his damaged aircraft in St. George’s channel and take to his lifecraft. “He le. t me mur days later,” said Lieutenant Scott, “alter a search plane had passed within a few hundred feet without seeing me. T guess he figured my chances were about through.” Lieutenant Scott s chances were not through, but they went close to it. | survive a battle with a ilf 1 iXuB Srini stl ’iiggle to keep u.Lr 3 n ied Claft before he y -i rescucd I9G hours aft£ -r he lancied on the sea.