“GOOD SPORT”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 June 1943, Page 5

“GOOD SPORT”

SHOOTING DOWN ZEROS N.Z. PILOTS RETURN FROM GUADALCANAR Auckland, June 2 Shooting down Japanese Zero* in tti> Solomons is good sport, say New Zealand fighter boys who have returned this week from operations in the South Pacific with a kill of five enemy planes to their credit. Their job was to establish a New Zealand fighter station in front of Guadalcanar, and to perfect the fighter organisation which is now producing excellent results. They had only one real show against Japanese fighters, before their tour of duty ended, and that was a dog-fight in which their score was four. But for inexperience, they say it could have been double and they are eager to return. A few months ago some of these boys were fledglings, but others like Squadron M. J. Herrick, D.F.C., are experienced. Another squadron has already brought the fighter score to 16. The returned boys, with a bag of five have not lost a man on opcraticni. They learned much in the first tru<h with the enemy, in a merry mix-up with about 80 pianes in the sky, with the Japanese about two to cn*». “You can't run out of the Zero;.’* they said, and one fighter added: “they are lovely little planes, light, fast and manoeuvrable.” “Our chaps did what they did because thpy are good pilots,” said Squadron Leader Herrick. “Their planes, solidly constructed, took a lot of punishment without affecting their flying ability, but were not of sufficiently good performance to go after the Japanese. The New Zealanders had to wait until attacked by Zeros before they could get into a mix-up. The Japanese were not as well organised op well disciplined. Our fellows stuck together two by two, at least, while the Japanese, after a few minutes of dogfighting, allowed themeslves to get separated.”—P.A.