This week in RNZAF History - 20th - 27th of November
[glow=red,2,300]22nd of November[/glow]22nd of November 1943
Here is an official press release from an old newspaper the New Zealand Herald
40 ZEROS OUTFOUGHTFOUR NEW ZEALANDERS
FIVE ENEMY PLANES DOWN
DAMAGE TO SIX OTHERS
(RNZAF Official News Service)
New Georgia, Nov 22
A highly successful action, in which four New Zealander Warhawks encountered some 40 Japanese Zero fighters, shot down five, damaged at last six and chased the remainder off, all without loss, was fought over Bougainville this morning. It brought that particular squadron's total to 14 confirmed victories and the fighter wing's bag to 62.
Led by Flight-Lieutenant R.H. Balfour, of Waimate, the section was patrolling the island from Empress Augusta Bay at 24,000ft. When about five miles east of Mount Bagana the New Zealanders saw between 35 and 40 Zeroes approaching some 2000ft below. Flight-Lieutenant Balfour maneuvered his team behind the enemy and, with his team behind them, they dived steeply at well over 300 miles an hour.
The leader came up behind the Zeros which comprised a main group and several scattered sub-sections. Two were directly ahead of him and he opened fire at 80 yards. A short burst caused on of the Japanese planes to explode in a sheet of flame, though which the New Zealanders flew as they continued the attack. Two of our pilots attacked the second Zero simultaneously at close range. It began to smoke and went down burning.
Air Filled With Aircraft
The Warhawks closed on the main enemy formation and for ten minutes there was a battle-royal. The air was filled with aircraft diving, climbing, skidding and spinning, with the roar of hard-worked engines and with red flecks of tracer bullets. Keeping their speed high, taking violent evasive action where necessary and working in pairs, the new Zealanders came through this part of the action unscathed and the Japanese took heavy punishment.
Flight-Lieutenant Balfour attacked Zero after Zero. The first two emitted black smoke and then disappeared in the melee. The next was hit heavily in the engine, cockpit and wing. It rolled on its back and spun down.
Time For Humour
Detailed results were impossible to observe in the heat of the action, although there was a time for a second's humour. The Warhawk's control base, many miles away, called Balfour by radio and asked, "have you made contact?" The reply was brief to the point, and caused amusement to all who heard it.
Gradually the battling aircraft lost height, and the fight drifted over toward Cape Torokina. There a solitary Zero was found below the Warhawks and, after several attacks, it was destroyed.
A determined head on attack against Flight-Lieutenant Balfour was made by one Japanese. The enemy was above and ahead. He dived fast firing as he approached. The bullets tore into the New Zealander's motor cowling and he broke downward just in time to avoid collision.
Pilot's Three Attacks
Another New Zealander, flying No 2 to the leader, made three attacks in quick succession upon one of the few of the newer- type Zeros - clipped wing planes in blue instead of the usual brownish-green, but proved just as vulnerable to attack, which was well pressed home. Closing to 50 yards, the New Zealander got a good burst into the enemy's wing root, fuselage and engine. An explosion occurred in the engine and a large piece of metal flew off. Smoke and flame followed.
An Unusual Incident
An unusual incident occurred when a Warhawk pilot attacked a Zero at 10,000ft. He attacked from behind, opened fire at 200 yds. and closed to 50 yds., watching his tracers hit the wing and the fuselage, starting a fire. The Japanese pilot got half-way out of the cockpit, and waved his arms up and down, giving the impression that he was trying to extinguish the fire. A sheet of flame then swept back form the engine, and the aircraft crashed in the jungle.
After sharing a Zero with Flight-Lieutenant Balfour, Flying-Officer C.D.A. Highet, of Wellington, attacked several others before getting his second one confirmed. Although almost out of ammunition, the New Zealanders sighted several Zeros high above and began to climb to attack. The Zeros, instead of facing the threat, turned towards Buka and made off at high speed.
(Source: New Zealand Herald, 9th of December 1943)
[glow=red,2,300]23rd of November[/glow] 23rd of November 1940Cambridge's Horace Sole joined the RNZAF
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Horace%20Victor%20SOLE.htm[glow=red,2,300]27th of November[/glow]27th of November 1942 joined the RNZAF
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Harold%20Lynds.htm27th of November 1943
RNZAF patrol aircraft reported spotting a Japanese submarine situated 100 miles north of North Cape
