48 TO ONE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 304, 18 September 1943, Page 7

48 TO ONE

Jap Loss In Air Fight

(Uy Telegraph.—Press Assu. —Copyright.) (Received September 17, 10.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 18. The Japanese air force suffered one of its heaviest defeats in the ruthnest: Pacific on Wednesday when Allied bombers and fighters raided aerodromes at Wewak, in northern New Guinea, and shot out of action 59 enemy fighters of a force of possibly 70 in a great battle which raged for nearly an hour. Forty-eight of the 59 were shot down and the remainder probably destroyed. In addition, at least 10 Japanese aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Only one Allied plane was lost, although a number were damaged. la. a special message from his Guinea headquarters, General MacArthur said : •'Though almost invariably outnumbered, the Sth Air Force in moments ot crisis never fails me. Switt anu sure iu attack, tenacious and determined in defence, it has proved itself an ideal wea ion of war. Its deadly efficiency bus’ never been surpassed.”. . Allied raids and air battles in the Wewak area have cost the Japanese about 400 plaues ill the last, tour weeks. In an attempt to redress their, disastrous losses, the Japanese are bringing in continuous reinforcements of planes, auu their air strength in this theatre is now greater than ever. . Today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters, giving details of this latest great Allied victory, says. “Our heavy bombers, with strong ngntiescort, followed up our recent neutralization of Dagua and. But with a heavy attack on the remaining two fields of the aerodrome cluster of the Wewak base, at Boran and Wewak itself. Sixty-six tons of bombs were concentrated m the target area in less than 15 minutes, scoring heavily on the runways a “d ‘■‘spersal areas, which contained from ~o to so •parked aircraft. Direct hits destroyed 10 enemy bombers and started many fires among the others. Two large fuel dumps were set aflame. Some 60 to <0 fighters intercepted in an effort to halt our a.tacks. 1 For nearly an hour the enemy attacked viciously, but failed to break our formations.

Brilliant Bomber Defence.

•Tn a brilliant deefnee our bombers shot down 39 of the enemy and probably destroyed 10 more. Our fighters ed for nine definite and one probable. Our losses in proportion were very lignt. Some of the bombers were damaged! but all reached the base.. One tighter is missing and others sustained (lain age. The performance of a Liberator formation known as tiie “Jolly Kogers, in shooting down 39 enemy fighters, iv tl an additional 11 probables, is regarded as one of the most amazing in the 1 acme war. Delighted with their achievement, the bomber pilots returned to their base saying: “If this keeps up we will be able to provide toil cover for the Lightnings in the future.'’ One bomber crew claimed a bag of eight fighters. . Allied air forces also struck a punishing blow against the Japanese in a sweep along the northern coast of New Guinea from Madang south to Finschhafen. Iho escorted bombers attacked oo to Qu barges, sinking 15 and either destroying or seriously ' damaging the remainder. Coastal villages were thoroughly strateu and many supply dumps destroyed. An anti-aircraft position at Bostrem Bay was demolished. The sweep was carried out without interception by enemy fighters. 'l’lie communique also reports night raids on Aniboina and Celebes Islands, in the north-western sector of the Southwest Pacific. Ambon, on Aniboina Island, was attacked by medium bombers, which caused fires in the wharf area and in the centre of the town. Heavy bombers dropped 27 tons of explosives on buildings, docks and the aerodrome dispersal areas at Kendari, in the Celebes. Under the cover of darkness 12 to 15 enemy aircraft ineffectively raided the Darwin urea of Northern Australia. In tiie Solomons Allied night reconnaissance units west of Buka Island bombed and strafed three enemy cargo ships. Heavy reconnaissance units by daylight scored a direct hit with a 5001 b. bomb on a 1500-tou cargo vessel, which was left stationary and listing.