FIRST N.Z. RABAUL RAID

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1944, Page 5

FIRST N.Z. RABAUL RAID

Six Zeros Downed ENEMY HEMS ,1N ONE RAIDER. (R.N.Z.AF. Official News). (Rec. 6.30.) NEW GEORGIA, Jan. 3. New Zealand fighter pilots were recently over Rabaul for the f irst time. They shot down six Japanese aircraft during a big Allied fighter sweep. Two days later another Zero fell a victim to a New Zealander who was a member of a fighter cover for a bombing raid on the same target. These victories bring the total on the R.N.Z.A.F. Pacific fighter board to sixty-nine. Warhawks were P al 't of a force of eighty Allied fighters on the sweep. Wing Commander Freeman, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, led the New Zealand formation as a spearhead and it was this section which ran into the hottest combat, and accounted for five of the New Zealanders’ score of six enemy victims for the day. Sweeping in oyer the coast of New Britain at Kabanga Bay. in mid-morning, the New Zealanders made a circuit of the Rabaul area, skirting the airfields to the south, and then turning on a -second circuit. Four Zero s came out of a wispy cloud. When they attempted to attack the rear of the Warhawk formation, a general melee developed Other enemv aircraft were also encountered. The fight

raged spasmodically for three-quar-ters of an hour, high and low, over Rabaul town and harbour, also over inland valleys and jungle, and out over the St. George’s Channel, dividing New Britain from New Ireland. Shortly after downing his second Japanese plane in a running fi£ ht over Rabaul township, a Flight Lieutenant- was chased by seven or eight Zeros, including three of the enemy’s latest type. He was forced right down on to the bush at the foot of Mount Tomanumbatin. He tried to make for the St. George’s Channel, but he was hemmed in, and could not get through. A Zero passed mm and went ahead. The New Zealander fired a long burst at the enemy with only three guns firing, until those stopped also. He was then between Rabaul town and shipping, and was under heavy anti-aircraft fire, hemmed in, and seeing no way out, he headed back for Mount Tomanumbatin with enemv aircraft still■ c , a f" ing him, and a lot of tracer bullets going past. He flew up and down gullies, at tree-top height, t a^ violent evasive action; but, as that was getting him nowhere, he headed straight for Rabaul, and skimmed over the town, still under enemy fire. After passing the town he flew through a low saddle into the St. George’s Channel, and went down to the water, where, at high speed, he eventually succeeded in shaking off hi- pursuers In this action . his aircraft received only three hits, none of which was serious-