ALLIED AIR RAIDS

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1945, Page 2

ALLIED AIR RAIDS

’ ’ ■ ? A,. • '•'■/ N.Z. Crews Participate ON NEW BRITAIN AND RABAUL - 6REEN ISLAND, March 9. Allied/A aircraft based, on Green Island 'are-striking heavy blows on Japanese.’, centres' of resistance on New Britain. Tobera airfield near Rabaul, was/heavily bombed during .the past. few .days, American Mitchells scored direct hits and there was a spectatcula'r explosion followed by a large sheet of orange flame, where one of the borribs found its' ,mark. Fifteen minutes later seven New,Zealand Venturals. took a hand in the proceedings. Their bombs caused a large fire with flames and smoke rising to 1000 ft; Later in the morning two New Zealand Corsairs patrolling Rabaul, destroyed two. enemy’’ trucks, and straffed two groups of Japanese Who were caught in the open. Another patrol accounted for one truck, and four Corsairs, which followed them-in turn'destroyed fourteen enemy huts with four direct hits. . The next Corsair patrol damaged a large supply truck, and killed-three Japanese who were spotted- on the beach. Light anti-aircraft fire was encountered by this patrol, and the aircraft flown by Flight Lieutenant J. R;' Mansill of Auckland; was hit but 'the pilot, flew it safely to /the base. ' ' / ■. ~ J .'?