N.Z. Warhawks Bag Another Seven Zeros AIRMAN’S EXCITING EVASIVE

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 6, 8 January 1944, Page 5

N.Z. Warhawks Bag Another Seven Zeros

AIRMAN’S EXCITING EVASIVE

ACTION

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service ) NEW GEORGIA, Jan. 3.

New Zealand lighter pilots were -e----cently over Rabaul for the first time. They shot down six Japanese aircraft during a hig Allied fighter sweep, and two days later another Zero fell 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 R.N.Z.A.F. Pacific fighter board to 69.

The Warhawks were part of a forco of 80 Allied fighters. Wing-Commander Freeman, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and bar, led the New Zealand formation as the 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 over the coast of New Britain at Kabanga Bay in midmoming the New Zealanders made a circuit of the Rabaul area, skirting the airfields to the south and then turned on a second circuit. Four Zeros came out of a wispy cloud and when they attempted to attack the rear of the Warhawk formation a general melee developed. Other enemy aircraft were encount*

erd and the fight raged spasmodically for three-quarters of an hour high and low over Rabaul town and harbour, over inland valleys and jungle, and out over St. George’s Channel dividing New Britain from New Ireland.

Shortly after downing his second Japanese in a running fight over Rabaul township, a flight lieutenant was chased by seven or eight Zeros, including three of the enemy’s latest type, and was forced right down on to the hush at the foot of Mount Towanumbatir. He tried to make for St. George’s Channel hut was hemmed in and could not get through. A Zero passed him and went ahead and the New fired a long hurst at the enemy with Only three guns firing until those stopped also. He was then between Rabaul town and the shipping and was under heavy antiaircraft fire.

Still hemmed in and seeing no way out he headed hack for Mount Towanumbatir with enemy aircraft still chasing him and a lot of tracer going past. He flew up and down gullies at treetop height taking violent evasive action, hut as that was getting him nowhere he headed straight for Rabaul and skimmed over the town and still under enemy fire. After passing the town he flew through a low saddle into St. George’s Channel and went down to the water where at high speed he eventually succeeded in shaking off his pursuers. In this action his aircraft received only three hits, none of them serious.