VIGILANT CORSAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 6

VIGILANT CORSAIRS

CLOSE WATCH ON RABAUL R.N.Z.A.F. PILOTS IN PACIFIC (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) GREEN ISLAND, Mar. 10. The main task of the R.N.Z.A.F. Corsairs based on Green Island is to keep a watchful eye over Rabaul, particularly the - five airfields in the near vicinity on the Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. Except when they are entirely “ weathered out,” these strips— Lakunai, Vunakanau, Tobera, Keravat, and Rapopo—are under observation every day, so that if any of the few aircraft the Japanese may have serviceable should attempt to take off they would be speedily intercepted and in all probability the New Zealand fighter pilots’ tally of enemy aircraft would at last reach the coveted century.

The Corsair flights relieve each other "on station,” so that there is never a moment when aerial vigilance is relaxed. Their patrols do not apply only to the airfields, but to any signs of activity in the area, and. attacks by New Zealand and American “ heavies ” are often based on their observations. The Corsairs also take a hand in attacking. Recently, for instance, they damaged a floating crane. One of the fighter squadrons now operating from Green Island sunk the crane on its last Pacific tour. When they returned they found the Japanese hard at work repairing it. As soon as it was floating again the Corsair pilots cheerfully went in with 1000-pounders, and again neutralised some months of patient work on the part of Rabaul’s wartime inhabitants. Strikes are also made on New Ireland, which is even closer than Rabaul.

Fighter pilots operating from Green Island include many whose experience in the Pacific air war ranges back to the early stages of the campaign. Squadron Leader M. R. Clarke, of Wanganui, and Squadron Leader B. V. Le Pine, of Nelson, the two squadron commanders, are no strangers to the South-west Pacific. Another veteran is Flight Lieutenant A. G. Pierard, of Palmerston North, who has a Japanese dive-bomber to his credit and is now on his fourth tour of operations. Other pilots on their third or fourth tour are Flight Lieutenant A. R. Walker, D.F.C. (Wanganui), Pilot Officer E P. Shorthouse (Waimauku), who has also accounted for a Japanese aircraft, Flight Lieutenant W. R. Mansill (Auckland), Flying Officer O. C. Woods (Auckland), Pilot Officer F. E. Ferrier (Christchurch), Pilot Officer W. L. Peterson (Auckland), Flight Sergeant C C. Olsen (Frankton), Flight Sergeant R. H. Wheeler (Timaru), Pilot Officer E. D. McCabe (Napier), Pilot Officer N. W. McCready (Hamilton), and Pilot Officer L. W. R. Egginton (Whangarei).