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Image: Curtis P40K Kittyhawks of 77 Squadron, R.A.A.F. led by
Squadron Leader Dick Cresswell D.F.C. staging a low level attack on
the Japanese held Gasmata airfield, New Guinea, July 1943.
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Of Interest: On November 23rd, 1942, Sqd. Ldr. Cresswell took
off from his Darwin base in his P40E Kittyhawk in search of Japanese
bombers that had been reported in the area. At 0504 hours at 25,000
feet, 5 miles east of Darwin, he sighted three "Betty Bombers"
flying in a tight V formation. He climbed to a position of about 20
feet to the rear quater of the enemy aircraft, a 4 second burst was
fired which raked all 3 aircraft. One of the bombers hit broke formation
and Dick launched another attack from the rear. At this time only two
of the aircraft's machine guns were working, the others had frozen up.
The "Betty's" starboard engine was observed to be on fire
and the aircraft was observed to be flying a weaving course. Dick again
attacked the aircraft hitting it between the blazing engine and fuselage.
The "Betty", now at 18,000 feet, was blazing fiercely and
exploded, breaking into two and crashing to earth near the Adelaide
River.
This was the first recorded "kill" by an Australian pilot
on Australian soil. None of the Japanese crew were wearing parachutes.
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