WARHAWK FIGHTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25458, 12 February 1944, Page 4

WARHAWK FIGHTERS

DOMINION AIRMEN! IN! PACIFIC 100 ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. The Royal New Zealand Air Force operating in the South Pacific has been in combat over Rabaul and has brought its total of Japanese aircraft destroyed to 100. In addition, 13 have been listed as probables, with many more damaged. Announcing this to-day, the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, said that New Zealand Warhawk fighters had shot down the majority of these aircraft, although several had been destroyed by New Zealand bombers.

“The success of our aircraft,’’ Mr Jones said, “ will be considered the more notable when it is realised that the actions in which these Japanese aircraft have been destroyed have mostly taken place in the last seven months and that with the growing strength of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific the average of the last two months has been much greater than the earlier average. During this period our aircraft have taken part in almost all the major operations in the Solomons and the Rabaul area. Their efforts have been warmly praised by high officers of the United States forces. “ Sixty-five R.N.Z.A.F. pilots and gunners have shared in the destruc-

tion of the 100 Japanese aircraft. Nine of these have three or more to their credit. The highest score for one day was 15 —on December 24, 1943. On this occasion 12 enemy aircraft were destroyed by our Warhawks and three by one of our Ventura bombers. “ Our losses,” the Minister added, “have been very small in comparison. Indeed, the balance sheet of the R.N.Z.A.F in the Pacific presents a most encouraging picture, and it demonstrates clearly that we have produced in the R.N.Z.A.F. a most effective weapon against the Japanese.”