BOMBER'S SCORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24824, 22 February 1944, Page 6

BOMBER'S SCORE

ZEROS DESTROYED

FINE WORK BY CREW Good gunnery and quick co-operation among the members of the crew were praised by the captain of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Ventura bomber which on a recent tour of duty disposed of three Zeros and damaged others which pounced on the New Zealanders while they were on patrol. Three awards were made to the crew on their return. The captain, Pilot-Officer I). F. Avson, of New Plymouth, received the D.F.C., which was also awarded, to the lire controller, Warrant-Officer YV. N. Williams, D.F.M., of Auckland, while the top gunner, Flight-Sergeant G. Hannah, of Invereargill, received the D.F.M.

The crew, with other members of the New Zealand Bomber Squadron from the area, has returned for a rest period after a tour during which the New Zealanders in the Pacific brought their score against the Japanese to 100. Fighters and bombers have both contributed to the total.

"We were sailing along the channel between New Britain and Now Ireland after a mission when about six Japanese 'jumped' us," • Pilot-Officer Ayson said. '•Unfortunately, there was no cloud we could make for, but we were luckily close to the water and hitting a good clip, and the Japanese had a hard job. One of them got under us, though. We fixed him. Bill Williams hit him with the underside guns and then 'Bed' Hannah got him from the turret. They got a half each and 'Bed got the other two." Pilot-Officer Arson added that War-rant-Officer Williams carried messages back and forth after the inter-com-munication cut out. Ibe Japanese waited in pairs on each beam while a third pair attacked from astern, each pair taking up the different positions in turn after making an attack. The other three'were sent off smoking and the New Zealanders got home with "21 bullets in their machine and one of the crew, Flying-Officer S. Aldridge, wounded in the leg. The crew also took part in the New Zealanders' attack on a Japanese plantation on the coast Qf Bougainville, where they eliminated a supplv dump with 86 5001b. bombs and strafing fire from a low level. The crew described that as an easy "show," since they were not troubled by 'anti-aircraft or fighter opposition.

HIGH REPUTATION AIR FORCE IN PACIFIC CHIEF-OF-STAFF'S TRIBUTE (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) BOUGAINVILLE, Feb. 18 The determination and skill in combat displayed by the officers and men of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the South Pacific were qualities eulogised by Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt, Chief of the Air Staff, when he addressed a large group of New Zealand airmen at Bougainville at the conclusion of his tour of R.N.Z.A.F. units in the forward area. He stressed, particularly, the thoroughness of the ground staff, who he declared had established and maintained a high standard of serviceability and maintenance under very difficult and trying conditions. "1 found this same practical approach to problems and this same standard of efficiency and effort in all units I visited," said Air Vice-Marshal Isitt. "All members of the New Zealand air crews have, in their South Pacific operations, earned a reputation for reliability and willingness to give it a go. As a result of this spirit you have almost invariably succeeded. You are all part of Admiral Fitch's team. It is a fine team, led by a great leader, and the R.N.Z.A.F. is proud to be a member," concluded Air Vice-Marshal Isitt. TOBACCO LEAF PRICES INCREASE OF 11) PER LB. (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Monday A price order has been issued by the Price Tribunal fixing the basic average prices of tobacco leaf. The minimum average prices are Is Hid per lb. for ' flue-cured leaf, and Is BAd per lb. for air-dried leaf of the 1944 harvest. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, states that the prices fixed were the minimum average prices to be paid by each manufacturer in respect of his total purchases of leaf of the 1944 crop. The order is similar to that issued by the tribunal last year, fixing the basic average prices' for the 1943 crop. The prices fixed this year, however, are Id per lb. in advance of those which ruled previously. Retail prices will not be affected by this increase. NOCTURNAL ENCOUNTER FATE OF LOST JAPANESE (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) N.Z. HEADQUARTERS, Feb. IP ( The most frightened Japanese on Green Island was one who stumbled into the New Zcalanders' foxholes bv night. Sergeant T. Pagan, of Pleasant Point, was peacefully resting in a shallow trench when the Japanese, who presumably had become lost in the bush, wandered into our lines, stumbled i against a New Zcalanders' trenching j pick and sprawled unconsciously over the prostrate soldier. Sergeant Pagan reacted smartly. Hurling his unwelcome visitor out with a mighty heave, he grabbed his tommygun to finish off the Japanese, but fright added speed to Japanese fleeing legs and he disappeared in the darkness. His escape was short-lived, for, running out of the frying pan into the fire, he careered over a 50ft, cliff and was killed.