CLASH WITH ZEROS
NEW ZEALAND WARHAWKS (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) NEW GEORGIA, Jan. 8. Flying in close formation and giving cover for American Dauntless and Avenger dive-bombers attacking airfields in the Rabaul area, New Zealand Warhawks yesterday had another sharp clash with Zeros. Confirmation is awaited of the destruction of two of the Zeros without loss to the New Zealanders.
A top screen of Hellcats and Corsairs prevented the large force of Zeros from launching determined attacks, but a few broke through and dived into the Warhawk formation. Accepting the challenge, the New Zealand fighters in turn attacked the Zeros, and two pilots succeeded in getting in effective bursts of fire, but in sticking to a tight formation they were unable to observe definite results. A third Zero which attacked the end section of Avengers was quickly put to flight by another Warhawk. During the raid accurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered, and one Warhawk was damaged. All returned safely to their base, however, after once again giving the Japanese a taste of the growing offensive.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19440112.2.39
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 25431, 12 January 1944, Page 3
Word Count
175CLASH WITH ZEROS Otago Daily Times, Issue 25431, 12 January 1944, Page 3
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Otago Daily Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in