AIR FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1942, Page 4

AIR FIGHTING

NORTH OF AUSTRALIA GREAT CAUTION IMPOSED ON JAPANESE. ACHIEVEMENTS OF AMERICAN KITTYHAWKS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, July 13. Air operations by both the Allied and Japanese air forces in the southwest Pacific yesterday were limited to reconnaissance. The lull followed the fierce air battles of Friday and Saturday. The Allies have imposed great caution on the enemy in the northern air war, according to the statement of the general officer commanding A.I.F. troops at a much-raided operational base. “A miniature battle has been waged for this place,” said the General, “but our boys are still flying mast-high while the Japanese have been forced up to 30,000 feet. “The Americans in their Kittyhawks and our own anti-aircraft gunners are winning the battle for us. When I arrived here enemy air raids were a daily occurrence, but the Kittyhawk pilots improved their performance till in one day they shot down every plane that came over. We had a fortnight’s lull after that, and then the Americans bagged 16 out of 30 raiding planes. . “Since then the enemy bombings have not been so frequent, and have been made from an unfailingly high level.”