CONCENTRATED AIR ACTIVITY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23943, 10 May 1943, Page 5

CONCENTRATED AIR ACTIVITY

Japanese Transport Sunk HEAVY BOMBING RAID ON MADANG (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY. May •. A Japanese transport, loaded with troops, and a cargo vessel have been sunk bv General MacArthur’s bombers off Madang, the important enemy base on the northern New Guinea coast,- between Wewak and Salamaua. The attack was made on Saturday. Heavy Allied air activity has been concentrated in this sector of the south-west Pacific area during the last 48 hours. Madang. which is the picturesque former capital of German North-east New Guinea, also had its biggest raid of the war on Friday morning, when 21 tons of bombs were dropped. Reporting Saturday’s attack, General MacArthur’s communique to-day says:— “Our medium units and long-range fighters, with a strong fighter escort, attacked a transport and a cargo ship off the harbour entrance. The trans-

port, which had its decks and superstructure crowded with troops, was: first set on fire by machine-gun strafing and then sunk by three direct hits from masthead height with 5001b bombs. Two direct hits with heavy bombs were scored on the cargo vessel, which was left burning and sinking. “Thirteen or more enemy fighters intercepted, one being shot down and two damaged in aerial combat. Another fighter, caught on the ground before it could take off, was destroyed by strafing. Enemy-occupied villages • along the coast were bombed and strafed on the homeward flight.” In Friday’s raid on Madang no fighter interception was encountered, but there was intense anti-aircraft fire. Japanese fighters were also seen patrolling in strength over Wewak, which is now the main enemy base in northern New Guinea. An Allied reconnaissance aeroplane on Saturday successfully fought off seven intercepting Zeros over Wewak. Hampering Enemy The main Allied air activity during the last 48 hours has been apparently designed to hamper the movement of enemy supplies and aerial reinforcements. Rabual, in New Britain, the chief Japanese supply base in the southern Pacific, was attacked by heavy units in a raid before dawn on Saturday. • Vunakenau aerodrome was bombed with unstated results. Barges, coastal luggers, launches, and small boats were strafed at various points along the north coast of New Britain. Catalinas have visited Babo, in Dutch New Guinea, bombing the aerodrome and causing explosions. Fires were visible for 70 miles. Japanese bombers and fighters in the dispersal area were heavily machine-gunned. On Friday Mitchell medium bombers attacked the aerodrome at Koepang, starting fires in the radio station and barracks area. Other enemy aerodromes at Timika, in Dutch New Guinea, and Langgoer, in the Kai Islands, have been bombed, but the re. suits are not stated. JAPANESE GAINS IN BURMA ALLIED POSITIONS THREATENED FORWARD UNITS REINFORCED (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW DELHI, May S. A joint communique covering operations in Burma says that the enemy, east of Maryridge, has secured a position astride the road four miles west of Buthidaung. Also, in spite of substantial casualties, he has succeeded in reinforcing. his forward units, thereby directly threatening the Allied positions. Royal Air Force aeroplanes on Friday attacked troops and supply dumps on the Mayu Peninsula. Beaufighters were on the offensive over the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers, and bombers attacked Mandalay and Akyab. All are safe. Enemy efforts to probe the Allied positions east of Maryridge and to infiltrate on the road between Maungdaw and Buthidaung are now developing into a thrust with a view to reinforcing the forward parties which succeeded in reaching the road at one point a few miles west of Buthidaung. Here and also elsewhere the Allied forces are closely engaging the enemy. A United States communique states that American heavy bombers on Friday raided railway . installations at Toungoo in Central Burma. Twentyseven tons of bombs were dropped causing severe damage to buildings' and the railway. Thirteen tons of bombs were dropped on a river bridge west of Mandalay, direct hits being scored. The Namtur mines were also bombed and the melting plant set on fire. All the American aeroplanes returned. A United States Army Air Force communique from New Delhi says that heavy bombers again attacked Namtumines on Thursday. A violent explosion and fire was observed at the smelter plant. Medium bombers hit rail installations at Sedaw, between Mandalay and Lashio. Medium bombers on Friday dropped 13 tons of bombs on a bridge 25 miles west of Mandalay. Heavy bombers dropped 27 tons of bombs on Toungoo and also destroyed one enemy fighter and damaged another. Allied fighters attacked with bombs enemy positions 17 miles north-east of Myitkyina. One Allied reconnaissance aeroplane is missing.

AIR ENGAGEMENTS IN SOLOMONS

(Rcc. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 8. A United States Navy communique states that in the South Pacific on Thursday a United States aeroplane shot down a Japanese seaplane southwest of New Georgia.

On Thursday morning Dauntless. Avengers, and New Zealand Warhawk bombers, escorted by Corsair and Wildcat fighters, attacked Japanese installations at Munda. Numerous explosions and fires were observed.

A United States Navy communique states that on Wednesday Lightnings and Corsairs strafed Japanese positions on Valeta Island in the Central Solomons.

In the Pacific and Far East theatre; one American submarine reported the following result:—During a war patrol early this year, under the late Commander H. W. Gilmore, one medium cargo ship was damaged. Commander Gilmore gave his life in an action against a gunboat. As he lay on the bridge, mortally wounded by enemy machine-gun fire, he ordered the submarine to submerge to save it from threatened destruction.