RUNNING BATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 25 January 1944, Page 3

RUNNING BATTLE

TWO VENTURAS MEET ZEROS

NEW ZEALANDERS OUTFIGHT DOZEN ENEMY (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) New Georgia, Jan. 24. In a fierce running battle over the southern sea approach to Rabaul two Ventura bombers of the R.N.Z.A.F. outfought a dozen Zeros, and made good their escape, shooting two of the enemy info the sea. probably destroying three more and damaging another two. Both the New Zealand aircraft were damaged. but landed safely at their base. They were on a patrol mission off St. George's Channel, which divides New Britain and New Ireland, and were half an hour's flying apart. Six to nine Zeros pressed home determined attacks on a Ventura captained and piloted by Pilot Officer D. F. Ayson, of New Plymouth. Racing and twisting at high speed a hundred feet above the water the bomber fought back grimly and ferociously, giving the persistent enemy all it had. This plane shot down two Japanese fighters for certain and so badly damaged another three as to make them possible losses. Flying Officer S. Aldridge, of Auckland, wireless operator and air gunner, who was acting as fire controller in the astro hatch, was wounded by bullets in the leg. His condition is not serious. The aircraft received 21 hits, which put the trim tab and rudder controls out of action. As a result of this action the turret gunner. Flight Sergeant “Rei” Hannah, is credited with the destruction of one and a-half Zeros, and the navigator, Warrant Officer W. N. Williams, D.F.M., Dunedin, with half a Zero. Williams won his decoration in bombing operations over Europe. The other member of the crew was Flight Sergeant A. A. Williams, of Dunedin, wireless operator. FLYING AT 300 FEET "The crew did a really wonderful job of work. I can’t say enough for them,” said Ayson later when describing the battle. He told how the aircraft was flying at 300 feet when two Zeros were sighted at 8000 feet straight above. Next came a report from the navigator that they were surrounded by Zeros. The pilot pushed the throttle and pitch wide open and the aircraft jettisoned its drop tanks and bombs. At every attack the pilot weaved, dodging away from tracer he could see passing him.

"Shortly after the attack,” he continued, "Williams, the navigator, saw Aldridge hopping about in the astro hatch and went to see what was going on. He found him wounded and the astro inter-commuriication gone. It looked as if we would have a thin time. Williams immediately took up the job of fire-controller and kept running back and forth from the astro hatch to give verbal directions to me for evasive action. During one particularly violent attack when I could hear shots hitting all over the kite, I went closer to the water and started skidding underneath the enemy. At this moment the rudder controls went slack. I kept on the course for home the whole time. When the attack was over I checked up on the crew and found Williams giving first aid to Aldridge. I landed without rudders, fast but with no trouble.” REAR GUNNER SCORES In the fourth pass made by Zeros Hannah put a burst into one, which turned over the top of the Ventura, lost height, and hit the water. In a later attack the rear turret gunner got a burst into a Zero, which broke off and passed underneath the bomber. As he came into view again the New Zealander pumped a full seven-second burst into him. He went up, turned over and went straight into the water and broke up. Williams shared in the destruction of this second Zero. He saw one of the enemy fighters come dead astern under the Ventura, so he made for the tunnel gun and fired a long burst into him. The Zero’s nose went up very steeply and Williams heard the turret gun start on him. He peeled around and crashed into the sea. Both the navigator and turret gunner said the Zeros made determined attacks and pressed them close. "There is no doubt that they were good pilots, equal to many Germans I have seen,” Williams added. ATTACKED FROM ABOVE The other Ventura was jumped by three Zeros from above. Two of the enemy pressed the attack home, causing damage to the bomber’s port motor and cutting the tail trim and rudder control cables. The attackers scored numerous hits throughout the plane, but tracer was seen going into the Zeros and smoke was seen coming from the cowls of one The Ventura started taking evasive action. As soon as it had levelled out it got into cloud and jettisoned its bombs. Jt continued cloud hopping for a quarter of an hour, then set a course for home. The crew of this aircraft were Flying Officer R. J. Alford (Cambridge), captain, Flying Officer A. W McClelland (North Canterbury), wireless operator, Flight Sergeant R. J. F. Reid (Auckland), Flight Sergeant J. O. Leaf (Auckland), fire controller in the astro hatch, and Sergeant Whiting, turret gunner.