U.S. AIR TRIUMPH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 232, 30 September 1944, Page 5

U.S. AIR TRIUMPH

MANILA BAY ATTACK Jap. Defences Caught Completely Unawares N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 10.30. NEW YORK, Sept. 2£. The carrier-based air attack on Manila Bay on September 21 is described by the United Press correspondent, who was an eyewitness, as a triumph achieved over adversity. The attacking planes took off from rolling decks during rain squalls and battled through heavy cloud over the mountains to Manila, where hundreds of planes made rendezvous at 9 a.m. . „, „ While the unsuspecting Manila radio blared out setting up exercises and popular American tunes, the attackers bombed 50 planes parked on Clark Airfield before anti-aircraft batteries opened up or a Zero attempted to take-off. Seventy g lanes were shot down on Septemer 21, effectively checking any interruption of the attacks against shipping. Mid-afternoon saw Manila and Subic Bays dotted with sunken ships and two score burning hulks. Fires raged in oil stores at the big refinery, and the floating drydock. Zeros made half-hearted long-range Early the following day the Japanese attempted brief retaliation. Bombs splashing and bullets spattering American ships, killing two of the crews, but causing negligible damage. ~'■•.« Our planes again found good shipping targets on September 22, although some undamaged vessels had departed overnight. Several of these were overtaken and destroyed or damaged. United States carrier aircraft, says a Pacific Fleet communique, struck hard against enemy shipping and defence installations in the Visayas group, Philippine Islands, in the Central Philippines, last Saturday, attacking airfields on Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Luzon and Mactan Islands, and all shipping found in adjacent waters. Twenty-two vessels were sunk. A particularly heavy blow was delivered at shipping in Coron Bay, between Busuanga Island and Culion Island, West Philippines. Seven enemy aircraft were shot down artd 29 aircraft destroyed on the ground at various fields, which were thoroughly bombed and strafed.

The following damage was inflicted on enemy shipping:— Sunk: One destroyer, one troop transport, three large cargo vessels, three !arge oil tankers, six medium cargo vessels, five small cargo vessels, three destroyer-escort type vessels. Damaged: Two large oil tankers, one large cargo vessel, one medium oil tanker, 15 medium cargo vessels, one small transport, 21 small cargo vessels, two destroyer-escort type vessels. nn nn In addition, between 20 and 30 small craft were sunk or damaged.