ZEROS KNOCKED OUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 3

ZEROS KNOCKED OUT

BY NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN FIGHTING OVER SOLOMONS. MASTERTON PILOT ACCOUNTS FOR ONE ENEMY PLANE. (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) GUADALCANAL, October 11. One of New Zealand’s most famous bomber pilots of the war, Wing Commander T. O. Freeman, D. 5.0., D.F.C. and Bar, of Dunedin, reverted to his original choice of single-seated fighters at Guadalcanal this morning, and joined a Dominion fighter squadron which engaged in action with Japanese warplanes between Bougainville and Shortland islands. The New Zealanders, between them, shot doWn two Zeros and damaged a third, without loss to themselves, and in the course of the action rescued a solitary American pilot who had been attacked by eight or ten Zeros. Returning from an escort mission to Kghili this morning, one of the Dominion airmen saw in the distance behind him a single American Warhawk being attacked by Japanese fighters. He advised his squadron leader, who took his formation of four _ aircraft back to the rescue, accompanied by a pair led by Flight Lieutenant A. W. Euchanan, of Masterton. The six New Zealanders found eight or ten Zeros milling around the American,' who, on the arrival of help, formed up with the Warhawks and then made good his escape. Wheeling out of its flight, a Zero made a pass at Freeman, who, after some short experience in Warhawks was flying No. 2 to Squadron Leader R. G. H. Newton, of Wellington The Zero missed. Freeman followed 'the enemy up ih a loop. He poured a long burst into the enemy before 'the Warhawk fell off into a spin. Meanwhile Newton had seen a Zero below. He attacked from above and behind, ■ and the Zero pilot, attempting evasive action, skidded his fighter into the New Zealander’s second burst. The enemy was only at 800 feet when hit, and he rolled over, losing height. Newton followed, suspecting that the Japanese was playing possum, but the enemy never recovered. Freeman, recovering from his spin, saw a splash in the sea as the Zero struck. Two other New Zealanders engaged another sectiqn of the enemy some little distance away. It was in this action that Flight Lieutenant Buchanan got in a good burst on a Zero which smoked, seemed to recover, and then headed back towards Kahili trailing an increasing cloud of smoke. Its destruction later was confirmed. Outnumbered, and right at the front door of the big Japanese base at Kahili, the New Zealanders reassembled on their leader and turned for home,

reaching Guadalcanal without further incident. Wing-Comander Freeman, who flew Spitfires with the R.A.F. before the war, later switched to bombers and became one of the most decorated New Zealand pilots. He returned to the Dominion from Britain some time ago.