THE “POTATO RUN”

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1944, Page 6

THE “POTATO RUN”

DESTROYING JAPANESE GARDENS. (RN.Z.A.F. Official News Service). BOUGAINVILLE, June 24. One of the strangest tasks ever ascigned to R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft are being carried out daily as a routine mission by Avenger bombers at Bougainville, in addition to their bombing of Japanese strongpoints in the Rabaul area, The air crews call it the “potato run” which is particularlv apt in view of the fact that their objective is to interfere with Japanese attempts to establish gardens on Bougainville to supplement their supplies. The gardens are not large and are well dispersed. so the task of knocking them out is by no means easy. Fitted witn oil containers and a large tube for the discharge of oil spray, Avengers are sent out almost daily to spray the garden areas. They must practically fly “down on deck” if their efforts are not to skim the tree tops They dive down and along a plot, and then go up and over the trees at the far enu; and if on the edge of a jungle they must fly along with their wingtips uncomfortably close to giant mahoganytrees. It is an exacting task, but the growing number of withered brown areas is testimony to the skill of pilots on the “potato run.”