WARMLY PRAISED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1943, Page 3

WARMLY PRAISED

WORK OF NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN OPERATING IN SOLOMONS. TRIBUTE BY AMERICAN COMMANDER. (Official News Service.) GUADALCANAL, August 11. “Your boys are fine and we have every confidence in them,” the American air commander in the Solomons said when paying tribute to the New Zeaalnd bomber, reconnaissance and fighter squadrons operating under his control. The commander gave a picture of some of the work the Hudsons were doing and said that while it was not spectacular in itself, it was of vital importance. Such complete reliance was placed upon the New Zealanders navigation that a single Hudson was often used to lead a formation of American planes to their objectives, deep in enemy country. On night attacks the Hudsons got through and later picked up their bombers and brought them home. “The Hudsons have done outstanding and fine work,” the commander said. “We rely upon them to get information and they get it. We use them mostly for scouting work and they make regular flights over the enemy-held area to observe and report. Their information has been most valuable. We have complete dependence upon them. Once in a while the Hudson boys get into a fight and once in a while they sink a Japanese ship, but their fighting mission is secondary to scouting. Some members of the crews have already been recommended for decoration, in addition to those already decorated.”