THIRTY-SEVEN JAP PLANES SHOT DOWN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 85, 10 April 1943, Page 5

THIRTY-SEVEN JAP PLANES SHOT DOWN

ATTACK REPELLED American Fighter Pilots Defend Guadalcanar RUGBY, April 9. The notable success of American fighter pilots who shot down 37 Japanese planes is reported in a United States Navy Department communique, which states:— "In the South Pacific on Tuesday morning forces of Dauntless and Avenger dive-bombers, escorted by Wildcat fighters, attacked Japanese installations at Vila, in the central Solomons. Hits were scored on the target area and large fires were started. All of the United States planes returned. "In the early evening three Japanese planes bombed Guadalcanar Island. There were no casualties to personnel and only slight damage was reported. "On Tuesday night Catalina patrol bombers attacked Vila. At the same time Flying Fortresses attacked enemy installations at Kahili, in the Shortland Island area, also enemy shipping between .the Choisuel and Santa Isabel Islands. "Early on Wednesday morning a force of Dauntless and Avenger divebombers, escorted by fighters, attacked Vila. Hits were scored on enemy anti-aircraft positions and on the camp area. A large fire was started. In the early afternoon a force of Avenger and Dauntless bombers, escorted-by fighters, attacked Rekata Bay, Santa Island. A Japanese fourengined flying-boat was destroyed. All of the United States planes returned. "Fifty enemy bombers, escorted by 48 Zeros, attacked American shipping in the vicinity of Guadalcanar. American fighters shot down 21 Zeros, five dive-bombers and ten other enemy planes of unreported type. Another enemy plane was later observed crashing. Seven American planes are missing, but one of the pilots is safe."