BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1945, Page 3

BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET

JAP. AERIAL ATTEMPTS

(Special P.A. Correspondent Pacific Fleet).

KING GEORGE V., April 13. For the second consecutive day carrier-borne aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet to-day struck at Maysuyama and Shinehiku airfields, on Northern Formosa, with good results. J , The day opened with an attack on the Fleet at first light by several groups of aircraft. They came within range of gunfire and dropped flares to silhouette the targets, < but were driven away by gunfire ol the King George V. carriers and ships ol escort. Our fighters 'uien reached them, and in several melees shot down three. The others raced homeward. My action station was on the upper deck by the mainmast and the first knowledge that the enemy aircraft were immediately overhead came for me when a carrier on the port beam began to fire tracers over us into the dark cloud masses above. Then a flare, dropped down toward the sea and the other ships came into action. Fighters began to fly over the carriers tc augment the patrols already there. The firing died down, but was renewed again astern of us. Several ships fired low across the ocean as if to beat off torpedo bombers. Again the firing ceased, although sounds of machine-guns were heard from among the clouds. One enemy plane plummeted down into the water and smoked furiously for minutes after. All hands remained closed up tc action stations, but about hali-an-hour later were piped to the messes Ito collect action breakfast —bread J marmalade, bread rolls with sausage I filling and tea. We were eating this, picnic fashion, at the guns, and elsewhere when there was another alert. With the broad barrels pointing almost straight up, our ’.25 s came into action on both port and starboard, firing directly into, a .cloud blanket overhead. Other ships joined in and the enemy fled. Meanwhile our bombers had

FLOWN OFF TO FORMOSA

and later reported good results. The First Group bombed Matsuyama through low cloud, which was down about 100 feet from the ground. Bombs were seen to burst on the runways and hangars, and storage tanks and warehouses were strafea. There was no air-borne opposition but flak was very heavy. The Second Group also hit Matsuyama and also Shinehiku. At the former the control tower, an observation building, a railway bridge and barracks were damaged, and a large explosion also occurred in buildings .which appealed to be an ammunition store. Shinehiku the planes bombed the factory area of the town and stramd the first train found by the British in the Pacific war. Bomber airfields, runway:!, administration buddings, stores and barracks were also attacked In addition, they hit a park of five aircraft; and about six others were seen dispersed. Fla.c was heavy rind the bombing hazardous. The fleet alert was signalled at noon when enemy reconnaissance aircraft were sighted, but they were driven oft by the fighters and throughout the day no bombs were dropped.

NEAR FORMOSA, April 14. Although they had just driven oft a dawn attack by Japanese aircraft and all hands had been at action stations for two hours this ship (the flagship) was more affected by the news of Mr Roosevelt’s death than the stresses of the recent combat. The news flash was broadcast to the whole ship the very moment the guns ceased firing and the effect was instantaneous. Officers and ratings were in groups expressing their sadness and debating the effects. Vice-Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings, commander of this task force, expressed the view of ail men. of the fleet when he said to one of his staff officers: “This is a blow to the whole British Empire.” To-day the Admiral ordered all ships to fly the colours at half-mast in the last hour before sunset. It is not a British custom to do this in time of war other than when convoying or burying dead, but the Admiral said: “None the less I feel it fitting and in keeping with what we feel to discard- precedent in tribute to a great leader and a sincere friend to the British Empire.”