JAPANESE HOTLY ATTACKED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22785, 8 January 1944, Page 4

JAPANESE HOTLY ATTACKED

“Battle Royal” Over Rabaul Success Of New Zealand Pilots Official R.N.Z.A.F. News Service NEW GEORGIA. Jan 3. New Zealand Warhawks have fought their biggest action in the Pacific over grimly defended Rabaul in “a battle royal," as the pilots described it on their return. They shot down 12 Zeros for certain, with six others probably destroyed or badly damaged. New Zealand losses were light. Rabaul marks the climax of the R.N.Z.A.F. fighter wings activities in the Pacific. Starting with combats over Guadalcanal in April, they fought the enemy all the way up the Solomons from Guadalcanal to Russells; then New Georgia. Vella Lavella, Kahili, Empress Augusta Bay, on Bougainville and new over Rabaul itself. In this battle they had more aircraft in action than on any previous occasion, and their score of enemy aircraft shot out of the sky was the highest for any single engagement. Twenty-four RN.Z.A.F. Warhawks and 20 American Hellcats took part in the sweep. The New Zealanders were led by Squadron Leaders Arkwright and Newton, and every pilot made contact with the enemy. As the fighters came in over Rabaul the pilots caw dust rising from an airfield gs the Zeros came up to challenge them. The action took place over Rabaul harbour where the Japanese have a large concentration of shipping. Starting at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet and finishing at sea level. Fierce dogfights raged right down to the sea. Squadron Leader Arkwright, with his men. led off the attack, and Squadron Leader Newton followed down. They tore into a bunch of between 20 and 30 climbing Zeros and shot down at least half a dozen m that first dive. A general dogfight developed with everybody working round some piece of the sky. Following their adversaries down, the Warhawks ran “slap bang” into another batch of between 20 and 30 Zeros, and went straight through them. When they reached sea level the New Zealanders found themselves boxed in by Zeros. Both squadrons had to fight a way out. Heavily outnumbered and chased continually they worked together and shook themselves clear of the enemy about 40 miles from Rabaul. Then they turned for the base. Tl»e whole fight lasted half an hour, and in the words of one the pilots “it was pretty wild and woolly.” General Melee Official R N.Z.A.F. News Service NEW GEORGIA. Jan. 3. New Zealand fighter pilots were recently over Rabaul for the first time. They shot down six Japanese aircraft during a big Allied fighter sweep, and two days - later another Zero fell a victim to a New Zealander who was a member of the fighter cover • for the bombina raid on the same target. These victories bring the total on the R.N.Z.A.F. Pacific Fighter board to 69. Warhawks were part of the force of 80 Allied fighters. Wing Commander Freeman DE 0.. D.F.C. and Bar. led the New Zealand formation as a spearhead, and it was this section which ran into the hottest combat and accounted for five of lire New Zealanders’ score of six enemy victims for the day. Sweeping in over the coast of New Brighton at Kabanga Bay in midmorning the New Zealanders made a circuit of the Rabaul area, skirting the airfields to the south. Then they turned on the second circuit. Four Zeros came out of wispy cloud, and. when they attempted to attack the rear of the Warhawk formation * general melee developed. Other enemy aircraft were encountered and the fight raged spasmodically for threequarters of an hour, high and low over Rabaul town and harbour, over inland valleys and jungle, and out over the St. George's Channel dividing New Britain from New Ireland. Long Chase Shortly after bringing down his second Japanese in a running fight over Rabaul township a flight ant was chased by seven or eight Zerps, including three of the enemy's latest type, and was forced right down on to the bush at the foot of Mount Tomanumbatin. He tried to make for St. Georges Channel, but was hemmed in and could not get through. A Zero passed him and went ahead. The New Zealander fired a long burst at the enemy’ with only three guns firing until those stopped also. He was then between the Rabaul town and the shipping and was under heavy anti-aircraft fire.

Still hemmed in, and seeing no way out, he headed back for Mount Tomanumbatin with the enemy aircraft still chasing him and a lot of tracer bullets going past. He flew up and down gullies at treetop height, taking violent evasion action, but. as that was getting him nowhere, he headed straight for Rabaul and skimmed over the town still under enemy fire. After passing the town he flew through a low saddle into St. George's Channel, and went down to the water, where, at high speed, he eventually succeeded in shaking off his pursuers. f ln this action his aircraft received only three hits and none were serious.