COMBINED STRIKE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23115, 1 February 1945, Page 4

COMBINED STRIKE

Corsairs And Venturas Well-executed Operation

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service). SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC, Jan. 30. The first New Zealand combined fighter and bomber strike, the forerunner of many to come before the Japanese are finally cleared from the Solomon and the Bismarck Islands, was made recently from the New Zealand air task force base on a target near Namatanai, New Ireland. Corsairs and Venturas took part. The plan was for the Corsairs to strike the area first and silence the ground opposition so that the Venturas, carrying 5001 b bombs, could follow in on a low-level attack. The strike ran according to timetable and 100 per cent coverage was reported. After planting four 10001 b and four 5001 b bombs on the target, the Corsairs swept in again with guns chattering, and thoroughly strafed the target, a densely populated bivouac area near the well-plastered Namatanai airstrip. Two minutes later the Venturas swooped low over the hills from the opposite side of the coast of the long narrow island and completed the job. Meanwhile a Catalina flyingboat circled nearby in case of trouble, but was not called upon as the Corsairs had completely silenced the ground fire. The Venturas were led by Squadron Leader D. S. Hamilton, of Christchurch, and the Corsairs by Squadron Leader P. S. Green, of Hamilton.

A Busy Morning Four R.N.Z.A.F. Corsairs, led by Pilot Officer P. Crump, of Dargaville, had a busy morning operating near Rabaul (New Britain) when they strafed and killed at least 60 Japanese in canoes and whaleboats in Karavia Bay, and destroyed four trucks. The Corsair pilots sighted the Japanese in seven or eight large outrigger canoes and three whaleboats southeast of Vulcan Crater and about two miles offshore from Matupi Island. Making an observation run they saw that all canoes had at least 10 to 12 Japanese on board. The vessels were thoroughly strafed and destroyed, and no movement could be seen when a second observation run was made. The estimate of 60 Japanese dead is a conservative one. The same pilots strafed two large covered vehicles near Toboi wharf and left them in flames. They later sighted two more trucks below Rabaul. They strafed both and left one burning. Another flight of two Corsairs led by Flying Officer N. S. Sutherland, of Dunedin, saw two large trucks, one loaded with 40 gallon drums, west of Vulcan Crater. Both trucks burned furiously after strafing. The two pilots then attacked a 50-foot cutter in Karavia Bay and left it smoking and, as a final gesture, strafed another truck on the coastal road near Vunapope and saw it in flames before they