HILL RETREAT

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22661, 14 July 1945, Page 8

HILL RETREAT

NEW IRELAND JAPANESE CORSAIR PILOTS' DISCOVERY (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) EMIRAU, July 6 Japanese troops who have been finding sanctuary in the New Ireland hills for many months suffered heavily when their mountain retreat was discovered by two patrolling Corsair pilots. It lay in an area which had not been touched by Allied bombs for almost a year, and was apparently not defended as the New Zealanders met no opposition from the ground. Flying across the centre of the lower portion of the island during a patrol, Flight-Lieutenant G. R. B. Highet, D.F.C., of Wellington, and Warrant-Officer C. P. McNab, of Christchurch, found themselves over a small village hidden away in one of the lower pockets of the heavily forested hills. There were many evidences of Japanese occupation, and well-tended gardens indicated at least one important source of food supply. Apparently the enemy did not greatly fear molestation in this remote hide-out and had been enjoying freedom from the daily attacks to which the remainder of the island has been subjected for months. Huts Destroyed In their first attack the two New Zealanders swept down and released their bombs over the village, destroying four huts. In their next run over the target they brought their .5 guns into action and strafed the remaining huts, five of which were riddled and left smoking. New Zealand-made incendiaries were dropped to complete the devastation. The village was thoroughly pasted and an unassessable number of the enemy killed. During another mission, an important military installation at Cape St. George was strafed and left smoking by New Zealand Corsair pilots from the same squadron. Squadron’s Record The latest series of fighter sweeps over New Ireland have done considerable damage to Japanese positions. Thirteen huts were either destroyed or damaged, bringing the squadron’s total for the fortnight to 29. A searchlight at the Kavieng aerodrome was hit, and a whaleboat and a number of trucks were destroyed. Supply and troop areas were heavily bombed. A Japanese aircraft, sighted by an American bomber crew and identified as a Rufe, was chased but disappeared in the clouds. The continual pounding of the personnel areas around Kavieng—now classed as the strongest-defended and most dangerous of the enemy’s strongholds in the South-west Pacific —has brought increasing fire from ground positions. The Japanese have moved additional guns into the area and their fire generally has been very accurate. Bomber crew| from the R.N.Z.A.F. Ventura squadron based here have been turning their attention to some of the more troublesome gun positions which are harassing our fighter patrols.