WANGANUI WARHAWK PILOT ACTIVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 35, 11 February 1944, Page 5

WANGANUI WARHAWK PILOT ACTIVE

SHOT DOWN A ZERO ACTIONS IN PACIFIC (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) Bougainville, Feb. 6. Seeking to interfere during Allied raids against Rabaui, three Japanese Zeros have fallen to New Zealand Warhawk guns in two days. R.N.Z.A.F'. and Japanese fighter.-, met in sharp forays when New- Zealanders were providing escort cover to Allied bomber forces. Good shooting oy Flying-Officer A. R. Walker, Wan ganui, put a sudden end to a fleeing Zero making lor its base on Rabaui. It was the only enemy aircraft which came within range of the New Zealand Warnawks covering an Allied Dauntless dive-bomber attack against Tbbera Before reaching the target the New Zealanders saw above them several zc.cs \.nich engaged the top cover of Corsair. - . The enemy lighters loliow ■ ed the Allied aircraft over the target but did not attempt to interfere. A_tir Allied striking force sped away towards Kabanga Day sovc al lone z,eros were being attacked high up by lhe Corsairs. One Ze.o. 2UO feet above the Warhawks, evaded four Corsairs and fled in a shallow dive towards Tobera. As he pulled out of his dive he was approacning Flying-Officer Walker, who tired a shout burst from about 1(E) yards. Thu Zero hurst into flames, flicked over and dived into the sea. Our Warhaw k.s accounted for two Zeros on the prev.ous day. when New Zealanders were providing close cover for Daunt Fess and Avenger aircraft, which struck at Tomra and Vanupupo with good results. After the bombing run about eight Zeros got through our lighter screen, but di I not press homo any attacks Sergeant T. A. Stephenson. of Napier scored hits on a Zero attempting to run through the Allied formation and the enemy fighter plunged into the sea. ; Another Zero shared the same late ; vhen ir was struck headon by firt i from Flight-Lieutenant II E. 12 w.eher. ' Auckland. Although general lighting ■ continued halfway to Capp Si. Geo.go. lhe enemy eve-ntually broke off iiiattempts to get through the lighter cover to Allied dive-bombers.