NINETY-FOUR 'PLANES FOR SIX

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 83, 22 June 1943, Page 4

NINETY-FOUR 'PLANES FOR SIX

THE smashing air defeat sustained by the Japanese over the war-torn island of Guadalcanar, in the latter part last week must have a devastating effect upon the Japanese High Command. There is now no longer any doubt as to the overwhelming superiority of the Allied air force, let the Tokyo radio prattle as it may. The Zero as a fighter has been definitely outclassed and future engagements if they are to be contemplated at all, must be fought out with a definitely improved model. Either this or the air training of the Japanese pilots must be vigorously overhauled and revised. Tojo's war cabinet must by now have realised with all the bitterness of the reaction that air combats for the Japanese pilots under the present airwar status is little short of suicidal. New Zealande.rs have a direct link with the battle which is described as the greatest air conflict fought in the Pacific, as there were eight Dominiontrained pilots with the mixed American force and the guns of these men accounted for at least five of the ene # y. The Guadalcanal' battle proclaims an air ascendency which bears out to the letter the recent convictions of our leaders that invasion of either Australia or New Zealand is now' practically an impossibility.