GOOD BAG

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 December 1943, Page 3

GOOD BAG

OBTAINED BY NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN IN BATTLE OVER RABAUL. DESTRUCTION OF JAPANESE FIGHTERS. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) SOUTH PACIFIC, December 27. Warhawk fighters flown by New Zealand pilots bagged 12 of 28 certain Japanese air losses in a Christmas Eve raid over Rabaul and shared in the probable destruction of six others. Forming part of the escort for heavy Liberator bombers, the Warhawks fought side by side with Lightnings and Hellcats against an interceptor force of about 60 Japanese fighters. In a series of spectacular dogfights, the Allied pilots got right among the enemy. In addition to the New Zealanders’ tally, the Lightnings collected eight and the Hellcats seven. The Liberators got one of 13 Zeros that forced their way through the fighter cover. The New Zealanders’ success is particularly outstanding in view of the Warhawk’s inferior manoeuvrability compared with the fast-moving Japanese Zero. The raid, which was one of a continuing series on Rabaul from a Solomons base, plastered Vunakanau shortly after noon. In the late afternoon, Venturas on patrol were intercepted by a swarm of Zeros, and of nine which attacked the Venturas two were destroyed and three others damaged. Both the Venturas got home, but one was riddled with 21 holes and had its rudder shot away. The other was also shot about. In spite of the punishment taken by the planes, the crews returned “all smiles” from this successful engagement.