HEAVIER LOADS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21601, 2 January 1945, Page 6

HEAVIER LOADS

CORSAIR BOMBERS r.n.z.a.fTexploits MAJOR STRIKE SHARED (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) South-west Pacific. Dec. 22. For the first time since operations were begun in the Pacific, New Zealand lighter aircraft carried two 1000-pound bombs recently when strong forces of R.N.Z.A.F. Corsairs and United States medium bombers raided an enemy target in New Ireland. This had the effect of doubling the Corsairs’ bomb-load, and enabled a particularly vicious attack to be launched against the enemy targets. The later-model Corsair has provision for the fitting of two additional bombs or belly tanks, making .possible the increased bomb capacity. Nome pilots have said that the aircraft trimmed better in this way, and none experienced any difficulty with the additional weight of bombs. Eighteen sorties were launched, and the day’s operations were among the most, successful of the squadron’s tour. Led by Squadron-Leader J. R. C. Kilian, of Christchurch, eight Corsairs took part in the strike on Lakurumau village, .some 30 miles south of Kavieng. the target area consisting of many large buildings and a number of enemy huts. The village bore every evidence of enemy occupation. Bombs Right in Target Area While a force of Mitchell bombers were hammering at targets further south, the New Zealand Corsairs, approaching from 8000 ft, came down low, using their dive-brakes, and swept over the village releasing 14,000 ponds of bombs on the target. The bombs were patterned right across the area, which was complete, y obliterated. Their mission over, the fighter-bombers turned for home, leaving behind them a vast devastated area which lay beneath a pall of dense smoke. Drenching rains over the past few days have retarded operations to soirfe extent, and with the return of good weather the New Zealand pilots made thb most of their opportunities. Small raids by pairs of aircraft were also carried out with much success, and no damage was suffered in those or in the major strike. There was little evidence of enemy fire from the ground. At the conclusion of a mission recently ,in which they gave fighter escort to “Dumbo” during a strike on Vunakanau, in New Britain, by United ’ States medium bombers Flight-Lieutenant J. L. Scott, of To Aroha, and Flight-Sergeant G. T. Watt, of Auckland, returned via New Ireland and carried out a patrol over Kavieng. Bombs were dropped in the barracks area, and two trucks: observed on the coastal road were strafed, one being left blazing furiously. While returning from thenraid. Flight-Sergeant Scott spied a Japanese staff car travelling along a New Ireland road at fair speed. He came down in a strafing attack, and the Japanese leapt .from the car and dived headlong ftito the bush skirting the roadway. _ Flight-Ser-geant Scott returned to Ills base after pouring several rounds into the target.