Thunderbolts in action on the Arakan and Mandalay Fronts (RAF J66A)

Australians are well represented in all RAF Thunderbolt squadrons operating in Burma. Two squadrons are commanded by Australians, 402748 Squadron Leader Donald Kewin McDonald, DFC, of Randwick, NSW, (134 Squadron RAF) and 402204 Squadron Leader Roy David (Gatty) May, a grazier from Condoblin NSW (79 Squadron RAF). The Australians whose close-ups are shown are from another squadron (261 Squadron RAF), but some of the automatic air to ground shots were made from aircraft flown by Australians in Squadron Leader May's Squadron. Several other Australians led flights in Thunderbolt squadrons. Thunderbolts are used in the South East Asia Command mainly as fighter bombers against lines of communication, supply dumps, aerodromes and strong- points, but they also do long range fighter patrols and escorts. They have done particularly good work bombing and strafing Japanese positions in support of our advancing ground forces, and in strafing sweeps across Japanese aerodromes Australians have destroyed Japaneses aircraft on the ground. Identified personnel: 420345 Flying Officer (F/O) Michael James Kidd, Echo Hills NSW; 421044 Warrant Officer (W/O) Wentworth Mainwaring, Macquarie Avenue Cambelltown NSW; Air Marshall Coryton; Air Commodore Earl of Bandon; W/O K. Godfrey; W/O Bullivant 13 Jesmond Ave, Dulwich Hills NSW, F/O Webster 37 Wallace Street Willoughby NSW; Pilot Officer Ernest Alex McKenzie, Farro Street Lithgow, NSW; General George Stratemeyer USAAF, Commanding General Eastern Command; Group Captain Chitters. [Adapted from dope sheet story line. See dope sheet for further details.] See also films F04778 and F10195.