Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 19, 2022 20:06:25 GMT 12
R.N.Z.A.F. IN THE PACIFIC
AMERICAN MAGAZINE TRIBUTE
High praise for the flying and ground personnel of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific is contained in an article published in the American aeronautical magazine Flying. The article is entitled: “Our Ally—New Zealanders under United States Navy Command have put up Remarkable Record against Japs.”
The article deals mainly with the first phase of the South Pacific campaign covering the Solomons and Bismarck Archipelago. The New Zealanders were then flying Warhawk fighters as close cover to American bombers making attacks on Japanese airfields on Bougainville, New Britain and New Ireland. Now the daily programme of bombing and strafing the Japanese forces remaining on those islands is done with Corsair fighter-bombers and Ventura bombers.
The article in Flying recalls that R.N.Z.A.F. flying and ground personnel arrived in the combat zone in November, 1942, moving into the fighting on Guadalcanar. The writer explains how the system of high, medium, low and close cover for bombers was developed, entailing four layers of fighters above each formation of bombers to prevent interception by Zeros.
Dangerous Work
The R.N.Z.A.F. provided the close cover for many months. The article explains that this was the most difficult and most dangerous work of all because the fighters remained with the bombers as they went across the target area and were exposed to the fiercest attacks of the enemy fighters and the full intensity of anti-aircraft fire. In addition, the article points out, the New Zealanders took part in numerous fighter sweeps over enemy territory and fought many combats with the Zeros. They did that with so much success that by the time enemy air power in the Solomons-Bismarcks area was neutralised 99 of the enemy aircraft shot down went to the credit of the R.N.Z.A.F. fighter squadrons.
The article quotes several instances to show that New Zealand Warhawks, even though heavily outnumbered, outfought formations of Zeros. It also stresses the less spectacular but equally valuable work done by the R.N.Z.A.F. dive-bomber and medium bomber crews. Discussing the New Zealanders as individuals the article says:
“They are Favourites”
“ Tough, knotty, good-natured, they seem to make a fetish of taking on impossible jobs with cheery unconcern. All through the Solomons they are favourites. An outstanding characteristic is their extreme modesty. In the face of compliments your average New Zealander will probably turn red, hem and haw, splutter and gurgle and then desperately attempt to steer the conversation into some other channel."
WAIKATO TIMES, 25 NOVEMBER 1944
AMERICAN MAGAZINE TRIBUTE
High praise for the flying and ground personnel of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific is contained in an article published in the American aeronautical magazine Flying. The article is entitled: “Our Ally—New Zealanders under United States Navy Command have put up Remarkable Record against Japs.”
The article deals mainly with the first phase of the South Pacific campaign covering the Solomons and Bismarck Archipelago. The New Zealanders were then flying Warhawk fighters as close cover to American bombers making attacks on Japanese airfields on Bougainville, New Britain and New Ireland. Now the daily programme of bombing and strafing the Japanese forces remaining on those islands is done with Corsair fighter-bombers and Ventura bombers.
The article in Flying recalls that R.N.Z.A.F. flying and ground personnel arrived in the combat zone in November, 1942, moving into the fighting on Guadalcanar. The writer explains how the system of high, medium, low and close cover for bombers was developed, entailing four layers of fighters above each formation of bombers to prevent interception by Zeros.
Dangerous Work
The R.N.Z.A.F. provided the close cover for many months. The article explains that this was the most difficult and most dangerous work of all because the fighters remained with the bombers as they went across the target area and were exposed to the fiercest attacks of the enemy fighters and the full intensity of anti-aircraft fire. In addition, the article points out, the New Zealanders took part in numerous fighter sweeps over enemy territory and fought many combats with the Zeros. They did that with so much success that by the time enemy air power in the Solomons-Bismarcks area was neutralised 99 of the enemy aircraft shot down went to the credit of the R.N.Z.A.F. fighter squadrons.
The article quotes several instances to show that New Zealand Warhawks, even though heavily outnumbered, outfought formations of Zeros. It also stresses the less spectacular but equally valuable work done by the R.N.Z.A.F. dive-bomber and medium bomber crews. Discussing the New Zealanders as individuals the article says:
“They are Favourites”
“ Tough, knotty, good-natured, they seem to make a fetish of taking on impossible jobs with cheery unconcern. All through the Solomons they are favourites. An outstanding characteristic is their extreme modesty. In the face of compliments your average New Zealander will probably turn red, hem and haw, splutter and gurgle and then desperately attempt to steer the conversation into some other channel."
WAIKATO TIMES, 25 NOVEMBER 1944
