N.Z. Warhawks in Battle Royal Over Rabaul

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 6, 8 January 1944, Page 4

N.Z. Warhawks in Battle Royal Over Rabaul

12 ZEROS DESTROYED AND SIX PROBABLES. (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) NEW GEORGIA, Jan. 3. New Zealand Warhawks have fought their biggest action in the Pacific over grimly-defended Rabaul in a "battle royal" as the pilots described it on return. They shot down 12 Zeros for certain with six others probably destroyed or badly damaged. The New Zealand losses were light.

Rabaul marks the climax of the R.N.Z.A.F. fighter wind’s activities in the Pacific. Starting with combats over Guadalcanal in April they fought the enemy all the way up the Solomons from Guadalcanal to the Russells, then New Georgia, Vella Lavella, Kahili, Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville, and now over Rabaul itself. In this battle they had more aircraft in action than on any previous occasion and their score of enemy aircraft shot out of the sky was the highest for any shingle engagement. Twenty-four R.N.Z.A.F. Warhawks and 20 American Hellcats took part in the sweep. The New Zealanders were led by Squadron Leaders Arkwright and Newton and every pilot made contact with the enemy. As the fighters came in over Rabaul the pilots saw dust rising from the airfield as the Zeros came up to challenge them. The action took place over Rabaul harbour where the Japanese have a large concentration of shipping, starting at about 18,000 feet and finishing at sea level. Fierce dogfights raged right down to the sea. Arkwright with his men led off the attack and Newtown followed down. They tore into a hunch of 20 to 30 climbing Zeros and shot down at least half a dozen in that first dive. A general dogfight developed with everybody working round some piece of sky.

Following their adversaries down the Warhawks ran slap hang into another batch of 20 to 30 Zeros and went straight through them. When they reached sea level the New Zealanders found themselves boxed in by Zeros and both squadrons had to fight their way out. Heavily outnumbered and chased at continually they worked together and shook themselves clear of the enemy about 40 miles from Rabaul. They then turned for base. The whole fight lasted half an hour and in the words of one of the pilots: "It was pretty wild and woolly."