Preparations at Rabaul John Lerew

wirraway similar in no. 24 squadron

no. 24 squadron s strength @ beginning of 1942 4 hudsons, 6 wirraways, , 130 staff. on new year s day, lerew led hudsons on raid against kapingamarangi island, igniting fuel dump still burning when squadron returned follow attack 2 days later. during 4–7 january, vunakanau airfield suffered 4 raids unescorted japanese bombers, destroying 1 of hudsons. although wirraways scrambled intercept attackers on several occasions, rate of climb poor once did 1 of them manage engage enemy seaplane, without result; action, on 6 january, first air-to-air combat between raaf , japanese forces. @ point, lerew signalled headquarters 6 modern fighters defend airfield; none forthcoming.

squadron leader arch tindal, northern area command armaments officer, added weight lerew s pleas modern aircraft. tindal had arrived inspect no. 24 squadron in middle of enemy attack on 3 january, , leapt nearest wirraway attempt interception. later submitted report headquarters @ townsville, echoing lerew s concerns regarding wirraway s capabilities , warning rabaul wide open bombing attack . despite this, morale remained high in unit; lerew remarked on devil-may-care attitude of personnel, waited until last moment take cover during air raids. on 17 january, lerew able gain sufficient height in wirraway confront japanese seaplane in head-on attack, .303 machine-gun ammunition not sufficient bring down. in 1956, while @ conference in tokyo, coincidentally met japanese plane s pilot, informed him lone assault had damaged engine , killed 2 crewmen, adding lerew bravest enemy ever faced .