RECORD WEIGHT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 31, 16 November 1943, Page 3

RECORD WEIGHT.

BOMBS OVER NEW GUINEA. ■3 (Special Australian Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, Nov. 15. Making the heaviest air strike of the New Guinea war, Allied bombers on Saturday morning unloaded 223 tons of bombs over 12 miles of Japanese airfields and installations from Alexishafen to Madang. The bombing was supported by a large-scale strafing attack, and considerable devastation resulted throughout the area, which is vital to the enemy as a forward base, for the fighting in the Ramu Valley. Four Japanese aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Three luggers and five barges in Madang harbour were sunk or damaged. General MacArthur’s communique Says that the entire target area was covered with smoke as the bombers left. The raid was the second heaviest of the war in the south-west Pacific. The record bombing assault was against Rabaul on October 12, when 350 tons of explosives were, dropped. The heaviest previous l aid on New Guinea targets was on Satelberg (near Finschhafen), where 221 tons of bombs were dropped on October 21. Saturday’s attack was the fourth of the week against the AlexishafenMadang area. No official announcemenf has been made of the number of Allied aircraft employed on the raid, but a considerable force of Liberator .and Mitchell bombers with Kittyhawks, Airacobras, and the new highaltitude Thunderbolts, participated. There was no enemy .air interception. General MacArthur’s reconnaissance aircraft continue to report movements of Japanese shipping in the Kaviang area, north of Rabaul. The latest advices mention the appearance of 10 vessels. Torpedo and bombing aircraft attacked with unobserved results. The communique reports that a 1000-ton enemy cargo ship was sunk off the Tenimber group. Five float planes were destroyed at Greenwich Island, north of the equator. Two aircraft were shot down near New Georgia, in the Solomons. Three barges were destroyed north-east of New Guinea.