FINE ACHIEVEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1943, Page 2

FINE ACHIEVEMENT

OF MASTERTON AIRMAN IN SOLOMONS FLYING “WAIRARAPA WILDCAT” FIVE JAPANESE PLANES SHOT DOWN. THREE IN ONE AFTERNOON. (Official R.N.Z.A.F. News Service.) GUADALCANAL, July 4. An outstanding success was scored this afternoon by Flying Officer G. B. Fisken, of Masterton, formerly of Rotorua, when he shot down three more Japanese warplanes, bringing his total to five since he reached Guadalcanal a fortnight ago. Fisken is a member of one of the New Zealand squadrons flying fighters from Guadalcanal, and his latest success brings his unit’s total bag to 21 Japanese aircraft definitely destroyed, with others listed as probably destroyed. . Two Zero fighters and a Mitsubishi longrange medium-bomber fell to Fisken s guns today Eight pilots of the New Zealand, squadron were patrolling the Munda area this afternoon, one flight of foui being led by Fisken A swarm of Zeros, estimated to total between 25 and 30, swept down on the Dominion formation, which was at 15,000 feet and climbing. A burst from Japanese guns put out of action one of the New Zealand fighters. The pilot was unhurt, but his guns would not fire owing to shots fiom the Zero penetrating his instrument panel and destroying his switches. As the Zero turned away, Fisken followed in a swift turn. He fired and his second burst caught the Zero and sent it down in flames. Eight Zeros then singled out Fisken for special attention and he dropped out of range in an aileron turn. Pulling out at 8,000 feet, he saw another bunch of Zeros below him. at about 5.000 feet. Another New Zealander was attacking this formation by himself, and Fisken dived on the last man of the Japanese formation. Firing off a climbing turn after his dive, he caught the Zero in a burst of fire, closing again. This second Zero smoked, turned on its back still smoking, and dived into the sea. Separated now from the rest of his flight, Fisken set about regaining height, in an effort to rejoin other Allied aircraft. He observed a formation of 18 Mitsubishi bombers at about the same altitude. He again chose the nearest and fired a three-second burst into it. The enemy aircraft dived straight down and tho New Zealander followed, firing all the way. At 9,000 feet, the bomber blew up and burning pieces filled the air. The action, which lasted only about thirty minutes, was fierce. All the New Zealanders returned, but one got back only as a result of his own skill and the stamina of his aircraft. The tailplane of the machine was in tatters, the rudder mostly in shreds, the elevators out of action and the fuselage liberally peppered, but the pilot made a safe landing. The Kittyhawk flown by Fisken bears on its motor cowling as a mascot a painting of a large angry-looking, black tom cat. Over it is the name of the aircraft ‘‘Wairarapa Wildcat.” The pilot of this aircraft and his*rigger and mechanic are all from the Wairarapa.