NEW ZEALAND PILOTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 274, 19 November 1943, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND PILOTS

ENJOY “FIELD DAY’’ OVER BOUGAINVILLE (RN.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) New Georgia, Nov. 1. New Zealand fighter pilots had a field day over Bougainville to-day, when they provided a substantial pan of the aerial cover for troops, ing the Japanese stronghold. The total for the day was seven enemy aircraft definitely destroyed, others probably destroyed or damaged, and a small Japanese naval ship blown up. A fresh squadron in the area accounted for all of the aircraft destroyed, and the ship was. raked by the guns of a second unit. Seven Japanese warnlanes were destroyed in the first action of the day, which took place before 8 o'clock this morning. Warhawks led by Flight-Lieut. H. Balfour (Waimate) and FlyingOfficer L. A. Rayner (Wanganui) engaged some 40 Zeros. They were later joined by U.S. Lightnings and Corsairs, which also took heavy toll of the enemy. , The Warhawks were on protective patrol inland from one of the Allied troops’ landing places on Bougainville when the enemy were met. Three groups of Zeros flying in tight formation were seen coming down from the direction of Buka, and the New Zealand section leaders immediately attacked. Flight-Lieut. Balfour, who had the advantage, picked on a group of three Zeros flying at some 16.000 feet. He treated them to a generous burst at extremely close range, well under 100 yards,, and one immediately burst into flames and dropped. A second fell out of the tight, trailing smoke. It was not claimed as destroyed, but this pilot definitely accounted for another Zero a few minutes afterward. Flying-Officer Rayner also shot down two aircraft, of which one dropped both wheels of the under-carriage on being hit and crashed in thick bush. The second was finished oft in the air.

Flying-Officer C. D. A. Hight (Wellington) shot one to the ground, where he saw it burning, and was filling a second full of holes when he had to abandon the attack through being fired at from behind. The second enemy aircraft was smoking when last seen.

A Zero jointly attacked by PilotOfficer R. W. Bremner (Dunedin) and Sergeant M. A. Nagel (Wanganui) disengaged in the air. To the amazement of the New Zealanders the Japanese pilot, whose aircraft had fallen to bits around him, pulled the ripcord of his parachute after falling well clear. A Japanese pilot also baled out of a Zero shot down by another New Zealand pilot. Although it was definitely a New Zealand victory the fight was far from a one-sided one. A persistent Japanese attacked Flight-Lieut. Balfour at 17,000 feet and followed him down almost to sea level, both aircraft doing tight aileron turns. Two Corsairs with a few well-directed bursts finally persuaded the Japanes<3 to give up the chase. The officer commanding the Corsair unit chased this particular Zero for miles, finally shooting him down.

The second action, later in the morning, was against a small Japanese naval ship encountered north and west of Buka Island. The leader on this occasion was Wing-Commander T. O. Freeman, who commands a New Zealand fighter wing. Splitting his formation, he kept half as top cover and led the remainder down to strafe the ship, which had already been

damaged and was slightly afire. Diving at nigh speed, the New Zealanders concentrated on the ship and on a boat, containing seamen alongside. Following pilots saw the Japanese jump from the boat into the seaj in an effort to escape the wing-com-mander’s fire, which riddled the boat.

and then ploughed into the ship, causing an explosion. Three other pilots in formation also fired into the ship, which was left on lire and in a siking condition.

Birds, by destroying insects and caterpillars, are a direct aid in maintaining production, says a correspondent of the Forest and Bird Protection Society. It. is only when the prodigious amount of insects consumed by birds is comprehended that, their value to the war effort is appreciated.