CORSAIR SQUADRON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25804, 27 March 1945, Page 6

CORSAIR SQUADRON

OPERATIONS IN PACIFIC is

DIRECT HITS ON TARGETS(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) BOUGAINVILLE, (Rec. 7 p.m.) Mar. 22. “It was the best show.we have;had“ up here for ages. Timber was flying--and flames from a fuel dump went higher than anything we liave ever.; seen.” In these words ’• • Sqiiadjftni-s Leader L. R. Renolds, of Waipukurau, leader of a squadron of New Zealand Corsairs, described a raid on two enemy concentration? at Muguai yesterday.. Direct hits were scored on a sawmill, and the whole area was effectively plastered. Nineteen huts were destroyed or damaged, as well as eight wheeled vehicles. An oil dump blew up, with large flashes of flame and columns of black smoke..

Eight Corsairs from another fighter squadron attacked targets in the north-west area of the island.. Visibility was poor, and made bembing difficult. Two bombs were seen to fall within 30 yards of a tank hidden under trees at the side of a road. Strafing runs were made, after which the tank was seen to smoke.

In another of yesterday’s attacks newly-built huts at Hakaru, Southern Bougainville, were bombed effectively.Two other Corsairs sank a 30ft barge in Soraken Harbour and holed another. To complete the day’s work, in which much success was credited to New Zealand air task force squadrons, two trucks and a trailer were strafed during a dusk patrol over Tenekau.