N.Z. AIRMEN ENGAGED

Grey River Argus, 21 December 1943, Page 5

N.Z. AIRMEN ENGAGED

In New Britain Attack

WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. Units of the R.N.Z.A.F have been taking part in the ne.w allied attack •on New Britain. Announcing this to-night, the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. -Jones, said that New Zealand Warhawks had been engaged m fierce fighter actions over Rabaul. “New Zealand’s' share in the air war in the South and South-west Pacific has been steadily growing, said the Minister, “and the R.N.Z.A.r. can to-day be counted as an important factor in these operations. Apart from our fighter squadrons, which have been taking heavy toll of the enemy, our new attack bomber units have been striking enemy bases with good results. It will not be long before we have dive-bomber squadrons in .action, and our new torpedobombers and their crews are now being prepared in the Dominion to join in the attack early next year. “In their latest actions, New Zealand fighters have brought the total score of our Warhawks to approximately seventy aircraft destroyed, and manv more damaged and probably destroyed. It is not possible at the present time to give full details of the latest operations, which are still proceeding, but it will be a matter of pride to all New Zealanders that the R.N.Z.A.F. is forming- part of the spearhead of attack.” < U.S. CAPTURE STORES IN NEW BRITAIN. SYDNEY, Dec. 20. Japanese have been entirely cleared from the Arawe Peninsula, New Britain. American Invasion continues to advance. Persistent air attacks on Allied beachheads on the Peninsula have been made by Japanese planes. These have been broken up by fighter patrols. Two Zeros and (Special to N.Z. PfeiS Assn.) (Rec. 10.35) SYDNEY, Dec. 20. Allied troops are advancing on all fronts throughout the combat areas in New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomons.

On Arawe Peninsula, New Britain Island, American invasion troops, after clearing the whole 'of Cape Merkue Peninsula, are .advancing along the coast. They have mopped up Japanese found hiding in caves in coral cliffs along the eastern side of the 'Peninsula. Stores and equipment captured in barracks and dump areas indicated recent occupation by a fair-sized enemy force. In one sector alone seventy tons of stores were captured. American forces captured Umtingalu village, about five miles east of the original landing point. Patrols are rapidly fanning out to consolidate the Allied beach-head. Allied planes which strafe the retreating Japanese from tree-top height are supporting the Americans. The coastal strip between Arawe and Umtingalu where the Americans are digging in is sheltered by cliffs about 200 ft high. West of their beach-head the American patrols are approaching extremely rough country around Sauren and Cape Busching Dense swamps fringe the sea in this area.