HELP FOR LAE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 8, 11 January 1943, Page 3

HELP FOR LAE

FIERCEST AIR BATTLE

Allies Destroy Five Ships And Ninety-thx-ee Planes

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent

SYDNEY, Jan. 10. Five and possibly all six of the Japanese transports which finally comprised the full convoy carrying reinforcements to Lae, New Guinea were destroyed and a heavy toll was taken of enemy troops and material landed on the beach at Lae. The size ?t the force which reached the shore is not known, but it is described in Saturday's communique as fragmentary. •Heavy casualties were inflicted on enemy personnel by strafing attacks on ships, barges and the beach-head landing area. Numerous fires were started among landed supplies. . The heaviest air battle ever fought m the South-west Pacific raged above the battered convoy. In three days and nights of incessant fighting the enemy lost 77 planes destroyed. 28 probably destroyed and 20 damaged in a smashing air defeat. At least 16 more Japanese aircraft were destroyed on the ground at the Lae aerodrome or in the air over other South-west Pacific areas during the same period. General MacArthur's communique to-day says that these losses are serious for the enemy. The Allied air" losses are described as not heavy. The damage done to the enemy shipping in each of the three days was: First 24 hours, two large transports sunk, and a direct hit on another transport; second 24 hours, one transport sunk and two direct hits on another transport; third 24 hours ended at noon on Saturday, six direct hits on a merchant ship, which was destroyed by fire, three direct hits on a second merchant ship and a direct hit on a third beached merchant ship. Lightnings Rout Zeros In one spectacular clash over the Japanese convoy at Lae, seven Lightnings escorting our bombers were attacked by 20 Zeros. The Lightnings shot down four Zeros and probably three others, and damaged five, thus putting 12 of the 20 enemy planes out of action. All available Allied resources were thrown into the great air battle. The bombers employed included Plying Fortresses, Liberators, Mitchells, Marauders, Havocs, Beauforts and Hudsons, while fighter protection was provided by Beaufighters, Kittyhawks and Lockheed Lightnings. [

The first day of the air battle saw 18 Zeros shot down, five probably destroyed and four damaged. On the second day, 20 Zeros were destroyed, seven probably destroyed and 15 damaged. On the third and final day 39 enemy fighters were destroyed and 17 probably destroyed. In addition, at least six more Zeros and three Japanese bombers were destroyed on the ground at the Lae aerodrome, while two of our heavy bombers returning from a Rabaul raid shot down seven of 16 attacking Zeros and dispersed the remainder. The mounting fury of the air battle is further indicated by the fact that on the first day 54 Zeros were in the air, while on the second the number was 102. The first day saw 10 Allied attacks on the convoy, 12 being made on the second day. This number was again increased in the final phase of the smashing air victory. Five Merchant Ships Destroyed While our great air effort was directed against the Japanese convoy, attacks also were made on enemy aerodromes at Madang and ( Gasmata in order to neutralise air support from these bases. Targets were raided on Timor and Kei Islands, where an enemy torpedoboat was destroyed. In the third day of the Allied air attacks the convoy was joined in Lae harbour by two more merchant ships. Originally when sighted on Wednesday afternoon about 40 miles south of Gasmata, New Britain, the convoy numbered ten ships—four merchant ships with six escorting warships. Its remnants withdrew from Lae during the hours of darkness late on Friday night or early on Saturday morning. It is probable that vessels not claimed as destroyed may have been hit on separate days, but it is clear ■that five merchant ships were destroyed, while it is likely that the sixth, which made up the full convoy, was also seriously damaged. No claims are made of damage to Japanese warships, the Allied air attacks apparently having been directed exclusively against the merchant ships. This is thought to indicate that the warships did not carry personnel, but were reserved solely for protective duties. The four transports which comprised the original convoy are estimated to have carried 6500 men. It is not known whether the two vessels which followed the'convoy into Lae harbour on the third day carried troops or merely supplies. Attack on Australia The belief that the Japanese must make a serious attempt against Australia, and that for such purpose they are building up great supply depots north of Australia, was expressed by the Minister, of External Affairs, Dr. Evatt, in a broadcast address to-night. Dr. Evatt said Australia to-day was prepared to a degree that would have been regarded as impossible a year ago. The Ciirtin Government had always asserted that not only the interests of Australia, but the interests of all the United Nations, demanded that very substantial allocations of certain equipment should be brought to the Pacific and that the flow should be continued in everincreasing quantities. It was necessary to add, however, that, but for the supplies Australia already had received from abroad, she might have gone under. In some respects the aid received had been magnificent. It had come not only from America, but from Britain.