FURTHER LOSSES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 9, 21 October 1943, Page 3

FURTHER LOSSES

SIXTY JAPANESE PLANES. SHIPS SUNK AT RABAUL. CAPTURE OF 23 VILLAGES. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, October 20. Another 60 Japanese aircraft were destroyed on Tuesday—36 at Rabaul and 24 in combat by Allied medium bombers Avhich bad attacked Rabaul Avithout fighter escort. Three Allied aircraft did not return. The Allied air forces in the South and South-Avest Pacific areas haA r e iioav destroyed, or damaged, 450 Japanese aircraft in the last seven days. The raid yesterday Avas carried out by Mitchell bombers, and is desci'ibed by experts as one of the most spectacular medium bomber raids, of the war. Heavy blows against Japanese shipping and air strength in the SouthAvest Pacific area are again recorded in General MacArthur’s communique to-day. Tavo light Avarships and two merchantmen Avere sunk, and others were damaged. The communique says: “A strong force of our medium units in adverse weather and without fighter protection executed a IoAV-altitude bombing and strafing attack on enemy aerodromes, and mast-high on shipping.

“A destroyer, a gunboat, and a 6000 ton cargo ship Avere sunk. A corvette Avas set on fire. Another 6000ton cargo ship Avas damaged and possibly sunk. “At Rapopo and Tobera aerodromes 36 enemy planes Avere destroyed on the ground, fuel dumps ’Avere set on fire, and anti-aircraft positions Avere silenced. •

“Intercepted after leaving this target area by 60 Japanese lighters, our bombers shot dovm 24 and probably destroyed six.” Near Kavieng, NeAv Ireland, one of Admiral Halsey’s heavy bombers scored a direct hit on an 8000-ton enemy transport carrying troops. The vessel was left on fire and sinking. Another heavy bomber attacked and damaged tAvo 1000-ton enemy cargo vessels off New Hanover.

The sustained Allied air offensive began on Tuesday of last Aveelc, \yhen 177 Japanese planes Avere destroyed or damaged at Rabaul. During the last Aveek, in addition to the Allied successes against aircraft, 125 ships have been sunk or damaged. The Mitchells yesterday covered their extreme range Avithout fighter escort, depending entirely on their own speed and fire-poAver for defence. They had-to meet attacks by numerically-superior forces of Japanese interceptors. They attacked in Avaves, and Avere over the target area for nearly tAvo hours. Throughout the campaign in NeAV Guinea and NeAv Britain the Mitchells have proved themselves as probably the best medium bomber in this Avar zone. The Japanese have been unable to cope Avith their repeated IoAA r -level assaults.

“Japan has been forced to concentrate on the production of fighterplanes instead of bombers,” says a Pacific correspondent of “The Times.” “This is because ,of Japan’s staggering losses in the South and Southwest Pacific. It is believed that, with the switch to fighters, Japanese aeroplane production now exceeds 1000 a month. The Japanese are following Germany’s example in concentrating on aerial defence.”