JAP. CONVOY POUNDED BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1944, Page 6

JAP. CONVOY POUNDED BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT

BIG TANKER BEACHED

Cargo Ships And Destroyer Hit Several Times N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2.30 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. A Japanese convoy, which is attempting bring supplies to the hard-pressed enemy garrisons in the Bismarck Archipelago, is being pounded by Allied aircraft. Already several ships have been hit and either sunk or seriously damaged. Following the discovery of the convoy near Mussau Island, in the New Ireland group, by a night reconnaissance plane. Allied heavy and medium bombers immediately attacked. They destroyed or damaged an SOOO-ton tanker, which was beached. Other ships which were hit several times included three cargo ships, each of 1500 tons displacement, a transport or freighter, of 6000 tons, and a destroyer. The Allied air attacks on the convoy are continuing. Both Kavieng. in New Ireland, and Rabaul. in New Britain, have again been targets for punishing air attacks. Rabaul has been particularly heavily hit. more than 200 tons of bombs having been dropped on the aerodromes in the area. Our planes attacked in waves, destroy-: ing or damaging 26 parked aircraft and shooting down ten Zero interceptors, while others were probably destroyed.