NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22353, 20 May 1944, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN

PART IN RABAUL RAID HOT RECEPTION FROM ENEMY (R..N.Z.A.F Official News Service.) BOUGAINVILLE, May 17 New Zealand torpedo-bombers and dive-bombers ran into the heaviest flak yet experienced when they raided Lakuna airfield, Rabaul, a few days ago. It was a smaller raiding force than usual, and in the clear weather, with unlimited ceiling and visibility over the target, the Japanese were able to concentrate on them from the beginning of their highspeed approach. Light and heavy anti-aircraft guns put up an intensive and accurate pattern of fire as the Dauntlesses swept down on the gun positions and the Avengers made their bombing runs over the airstrip. Despite fierce ground opposition the Allied aircraft scored many bomb hits on the runway and silenced some of the guns. “The ack-ack was just terrific,” said the gunner of a New Zealand Dauntless which led the attack. “It was the worst we have encountered. There was terrific crossfire light across the harbour as we were pulling out—you could almost get out and walk on it.” 50 Shells Fired at Plane Just off Matupi Island, at the entrance to Simpson Harbour, 50 heavy calibre shells were fired at one New Zealand aircraft, which took violent evasive action and came through without a scratch. One American flier came back with a 50-calibre jlug through the water-bottle on his hip.

When pulling away from the target Flying-Officer D. J. Fyfe, of Christchurch, pilot of the lasy Avenger to leave, was informed by his turret gunner, Pilot-Officer W. J. Shannahan, of Auckland, that another New Zealand aircraft behind them was losing height and speed and its undercarriage was coming down. This machine was seen to go into the water. Flying-Officer Fyfe turned back through the deadly curtain of flak to try to spot the survivors in the water so that he could drop a rubber dinghy. He circled the area twice, but the enemy guns had him bracketed, and so hot was their barrage that he was compelled to retire. Flying-Officer Fyfe put uo a notable performance by bringing back his aircraft from Rabaul with most of its tail shot away and making a successful emergency landing at the base, despite extreme difficulty of control.

A woman in uniform was a member of the crew of a British bomber which crashed at Gantoffe Denmark, last Monday night, declared the Berlin radio. “It is assumed she was a war correspondent, unless the Royal Air Force is filling up gaps oy recruiting women pilots. All the crew of the bomber were killed,” added the radio. [Women journalist*: are not allowed in operational British planes.]