POSSIBLE AIR CRISIS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24092, 30 October 1943, Page 5

POSSIBLE AIR CRISIS

JAPANESE LOSSES AT RABAUL SIX HEAVY ALLIED ATTACKS (Special Australian Corresp./N.ZP.A:) SYDNEY, Oct. 28. Japan faces the prospect, of an air crisis in the-south-west Pacific as a result of her enormous losses of frontline aeroplanes at Babaul in the six big raids on this key base., Since October 12 the Japanese have lost 508' aeroplanes destroyed or damaged, ’ while only 12 pf the attacking Allied aeroplanes have been lost, • - Japan’s output of aeroplanes for all fronts is • estimated at tlsoo a i mouth. To maintain their air .fleet at Rabaul the Japanese must “have (seen forced to draw heavily on reinforcements at Truk, 830 miles north of Babaul, and other rear bases. These reinforcements have been wiped out as fast as they, reached the Eabaul area. ' ‘The losses have steadily weakened the entire eastern flank Of Japan's south-west Pacific defence line extending to, the northern Solomons.:; : ir " It is significant that as the Allied air attacks against Rabaul have mounted, enemy, fighter opposition to the Allied raids against the northern Solomons has waned. At Kahili, the. main aerodrome on Bougainville Island, fighter interception '.has dwindled - from as many as 30 Zeros early in September to none against the latest attacks by Admiral Halsey’s aircraft. The . weight of the Allied attacks, in contrast,, has frown steadily stronger, up ■ to .120 ombers of different types being, used in a single day. • In .the last two months hundreds of tons of bombs have been dropped oh the Kahili airfield; which isnowbfit of action with pitted runways, shattered revetments, and bufnt-out installations. War correspondents!’ln; the 1 south Pacific, area say..that'for. thd purpose of launching’ Japanese bomber raids against Allied ; bases. Bougainville Island is now largely, but drthe picture? Most of the' bombers ; must now come from Buka, the northefumost of the Solomon Islands, and from Babaul. The Japanese have thus been forced into a virtual 1 air withdrawal of a further 120 miles to the north. . Air control of Rabaul dates from the first use of Trobrland and Woodlark Islands (off the north coast of eastern New Guinea) as advanced fighter bases. These are within 350 miles of Babaul. The islands were occupied by the Allies bn June 30, and fighter strips have been .developed for Lockheed Lightnings. l , Under this fighter protection Allied bombers, at .trivial cost, have smashed lour enemy air fleets at Babaul in six raids since October 12.