IN A BATTLE ROYAL

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1944, Page 5

IN A BATTLE ROYAL

12 Zeros Bagged 1 (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service). (Rec. 6.30.) NEW GEORGIA, Jan. 3. New Zealand Warhawks have fought their biggest action in the Pacific over the grimly-defended Japanese base of Rabaul. “It was a battle royal,” as the pilots described it on their return. They shot down twelve Zeros for certain. Six others were probably destroyed or badly damaged. The New Zealand losses were light. Rabaul marks the climax of the R.N.Z.A.F. fighter wing’s activities in t'he Pacific. Starting with combats over Guadalcanar last April, they fought the enemy all the way up to the Solomons from Guadalcanar to the Russell Island, and then to New Georgia, Vella Lavella, Kahili, Empress Augusta Bay, and on to Bougainville, and now over Rabaul itself. In this battle they had more aircraft in action than on any previous occasion, and their score or enemy aircraft shot out Of the sky was their highest for any single enSa rSenty-four R.N.Z.A.F, Warlhawks and twenty American Hellcat s took part in the sweep. The Nevy Zealanders were led by Ssuadron Leaders Arkwright and Newton. Every pilot made contact with the enemy. As the fighters came in over Rabaul, tne pilots saw dust rising from an airfield as Zeros came up to challenge them. An action took place over Rabaui harbour, where the Japanese have large concentrations of shipping. Th« action started at about eighteen thousand feet, finishing at sea level. Fierce dogfights raged right down to the sea. Squadron Leader Arkwright, with his men, led off in attack, and Squadron Leader Newton followed down. They tore into a bunch of 20 to 30 climbing Zeros. Thev shot down at least half a dozen Zeros in that first dive. A general dogfight then developed, with everybody working round some piece ox the sky. ’ Following adversaries down, the Warhawks ran slap bang into another batch of 20 or 30 Zeros, and went straight through them. When thev reached sea level, tne New Zealanders found themselves boxed in by Zeros. Both squadrons had to ficr'ht their way out. they were heavily outnumbered and were chased at continually. They together and shook themselves clear of the enemy, about forty miles from Rabaul. Then they turned for their base. The whole fight lasted half an hour, and in the words of one of the pilots, "It was pretty wild and woolly."