| Place | Oceania: Pacific Islands, Solomon Islands, Bougainville |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | OG2294 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film original negative 3x4" safety base |
| Maker |
Harrison, John Thomas |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
NEAR RURI BAY, NORTHERN BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND, SOLOMON ISLANDS. 1945-03-04. THREE JAPANESE TANKS ...
Description
NEAR RURI BAY, NORTHERN BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND, SOLOMON ISLANDS. 1945-03-04. THREE JAPANESE TANKS INTENDED BY THE ENEMY FOR USE AS A SURPRISE WEAPON AGAINST AUSTRALIAN TROOPS FIGHTING IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR OF BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND WERE BOMBED AND STRAFED BY AIRCRAFT OF THE RAAF AND ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE. ONE WAS DESTROYED AND THE OTHER TWO SO BADLY DAMAGED THAT THEY MAY BE INCAPABLE OF FURTHER FIGHTING. THE USE OF TANKS BY THE ENEMY IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT. SPOTTED BY AUSTRALIAN BOOMERANG AIRCRAFT OF NO. 5 (TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE) SQUADRON RAAF THEY WERE BOMBED BY NEW ZEALAND CORSAIR AIRCRAFT USING 1000LB "DAISY CUTTER" BOMBS. ONE OF THE TANKS, ITS TRACKS STANDING OUT CLEARLY AMONG THE KUNAI GRASS, IS PICTURED SOON AFTER IT WAS SIGHTED BY RAAF PILOTS.