INTO ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1943, Page 3

INTO ACTION

NEW ZEALAND LANDING ON VELLA LAVELLA TOLL TAKEN OF ATTACKING ENEMY PLANES. NO OTHER RESITANCE MET. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) VELLA LAVELLA. September 19. A large convoy took the New Zealand troops unmolested on the second stage of their move to a forward Solomons island. The ships, disposed in wide diamond formation, were an open invitation to Japanese bombers or submarines; but whether the enemy intelligence had failed to gather information of the New Zealanders’ departure, or the lighter escort and strong anti-aircraft defences acted as a deterrent, the fact remains that no interference was attempted at any stage. From the time the convoy left its rendezvous it had sailed almost under the shadow of the hills of Japaneseheld Kolambangara and arrived at its destimation and not a tittle of excitement disturbed the Dominion troops on board. Inside a destroyer screen a motley assortment of ships carried their quota of men and equipment. Capacious craft of British design carried a full complement of vehicles and guns.

These invasion ships are known as “LST,” meaning ‘Landing ships, tanks,’ Of shallow draught, they push their bows through the breakers to the beach, opening wide bow doors, and dropping huge steel ramps. Inside is a vast parking floor from which trucks and tanks can be driven ashore. They are not the last word in comfort, nor does their appearance belie the wisecrack name that some dispose to call them —“Large slow targets.” Maybe they are, but they pack a heavy punch as many a Japanese bomber has found.

Some of the men travelled on destroyers of last-war vintage, remodelled and rechristened “APD,” or “army personnel destroyers.” They have a better turn of speed that the "LST” or their kindred craft “LCI” (landing craft, infantry) which also charge the beaches and land their cargo of men over steel bridges flung from the bows. The absence of opposition was almost incredible. Three times air raid alerts were sounded, and in the darkness men strained their ears for the peculiar waxing and waning of Japanese bomber engines. But from above the only sound was the steady reassuring sound of friendly aircraft. To starboard the muffled roar of exploions and flashes of fire told of air activity over the New Georgian island group, where the enemy on Kolambangara was taking a tough and relentless pummelling. Suspense died away as the convoy reached the beaches of Vella Lavella and the perspiring New Zealanders unloaded their weapons of war in torrid, stinking heat. Then,’ hours later, the Japs came, dive-bombers and fighhter escorts, in the first serious raid the New Zealand boys had experienced. If their objective was the big ships unloading on the beaches those Japanese who lived to tell the tale must have been bitterly disappointed. A hail of anti-air-craft fire and a force of Allied fighters tore the raiders apart a mile or so from the ships. Dive-bombers peeled off to attack a buzzing Allied crash-boat half a mile from the shore. “Dopy Dick,” as its crew had named the launch, sent two crashing in flames and probably scored a third hit. Fighters accounted for the balance of seven enemy machines that never returned to their base. The rest fled for home. The engagement was short and sharp, and its effectiveness may be judged from the fact that the enemy made no more daylight raids either that day, the next, or the day after. AIR COMBATS SEVEN JAPANESE BOMBERS. DESTROYED BY NEW ZEALAND FIGHTERS. (R.N.ZA.F. Official News Service.) GUADALCANAL. October 2. Seven Japanese dive-bombers were definitely destroyed and two others damaged when pilots of a New Zealand fighter squadron intercepted them during an attack on the Vella Lavella area yesterday. All the Dominion pilots returned safely, though one after shooting down two of the enemy was himself attacked by one of the enemy’s protecting screen of Zeros and had one exhaust pipe shot from his Warhawk’s motor.

The successful pilots were Flying Officer M. Davis, Wellington (two destroyed), Flight Lieutenant G. L. Grimsdale, Dunedin (two destroyed), Flying Officer J. de Willimoff, Tirau (one destroyed), and Pilot Officer A. G. Pierard, Palmerston North (one destroyed). The officer commanding, Squadron Leader M. J. Herrick, D.F.C., R.A.F., Hawke’s Bay, and Flying Officer A. L. Parlane, Hamilton, shared one destroyed, and both the squadron leader and Sergeant E. D. Smark, Warkworth, scored one each damaged. Out of routine patrol, the New Zealanders were in two sections, led by Herrick and Willimoff respectively. Eight Warhawks encountered a formation of divebombers, which were in turn protected by Zeros high above. While highflying American aircraft engaged the Zeros, the New Zealanders caught up with the dive-bombers just as they were beginning their dive toward the targets below and followed them down.

Infinitely faster than the dive-bomb-ers, the Warhawks rapidly overlook the Japanese. The action was more of a chase than a fight, the enemy endeavouring to escape from the New Zealanders, who had the advantage of heigh and speed. Several of the divebombers burst into flame as they fell and others crashed into the sea. One shot down by Grimsdale hit the water with such impetus that the enemy rear-gunner was thrown out. The action was brisk and decisive. No accurate count was taken of the total number of dive-bombers engaged, but scarcely one escaped undamaged. Within a few minutes six were in the water and the New Zealanders had exhauted their ammunition.

Breaking off their actions with the American top-cover, some of the Zeros dived to attack the Warhawks. The New Zealanders with no more ammunition had to run for it, and though they all escaped, Davis had his aircraft shot about and one exhaust pipe blown from the motor. He landed at an intermediate strip and returned to Guadalcanal today. The victory yesterday, the first major action in which the New Zealanders have been engaged in this area

fcr some weeks, bringing the Dominion fighter squadron’s total bag in the Solomons to 42 enemy aircraft, including fighters, dive-bombers, seaplanes and medium bombers. The particular squadron engaged is now on its second tour of operations in the area and has a total of 11 confirmed victories to its credit.