BOMBING DUELS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 11, 14 January 1943, Page 5

BOMBING DUELS

IN SOLOMONS GROUP Land Offensive Operations Make Progress N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. 11.30. WASHINGTON, Jan. 13. An enfemy plane dropped five bombs on United States positions south-west of the Henderson airfield, on Guadalcanal according to the Navy Department communique 250. The casualties were one killed and several wounded. To-day a force of Marauder medium bombers, escorted by Airacobras and Lightnings, combed the Japanese airfield at Munda, New Georgia. No air opposition was encountered, but anti-aircraft guns were active. The results of the raid have not yet been reported. All of the United States planes returned. Small-scale land offensive operations against enemy outposts on Guadalcanar are progressing satisfactorily. Several small enemy positions have been isolated. An agency correspondent says that according to Major-General Harmon, who has just visited Allied troops in Guadalcanar, it will not be long before the Japanese are cleaned out of that island in the Solomons group. An American radio station says that there are indications that in spite of repeated bombings the Japanese have put Munda airfield, New Georgia, back into operation. There is no fresh news of. Japanese warships' movements in the South Pacific, but it is reported that the American troops on Guadalcanar have consolidated and improved their positions to such an extent that the 20,000 ertemy troops cornered on the island will starve if their warships are unable to break the Allied blockade. American reinforcement convoys have been arriving at Guadalcanar at the rate of almost pnfe each week and an early offensive against the trapped Japanese is predicted. United States air raids in the Solomons, principally against Munda, New Georgia, have inflicted considerable damage on points where Japanese relief forces were believed to be massing. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that it is not revealed whether the damage has been sufficient to upset the enemy plans for a drive in force against Allied positions in the South Pacific. The Americans on Guadalcanar now hold a strip of coastline .18 miles long and four to five miles deep—almost double the area held I two months ago. This puts the Henderson airfield out of range of Japanese artillery and minimises the risk of a surprise attack. ACTIVITY IN AIR ALLIED PLANES OVER FRANCE British Official Wifeless Rec. 1.30 pan. RUGBY, Jan. 13. R.A.F., Dominion and Allied air forces carried out extensive operations over Northern France. United States Flying Fortresses bombed industrial plants at Lille and numerous bursts were seen on the and in the railway yards. There were a 1 number of encounters with enemy aircraft. From this operation three , Flying Fortresses are missing. Boston bombers, escorted by United States Spitfires,- bombed the airfield at St. Omer. Marauders, with escort, bombed the airfield at Abbeville. Many squadrons of R.A.F. Bostons and Allied aircraft carried ■ out covering and supporting opera- ! tions in which three enemy fighters • were destroyed. i The Air Ministry states that last , night aircraft of the Bomber Com- - mand again attacked targets in the > 'Ruhr. One aircraft is missing. It is officially stated that two E enemy fighters this morning dropped * bombs at a place on the south-east - coast of England. Some damage was 1 done and there was a small number of casualties.