AIRFIELDS POUNDED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 307, 22 September 1943, Page 7

AIRFIELDS POUNDED

Allied Raids In S.W. Pacific

(Received September 21, 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY", September 21. , Heavy attacks by General MacArthur’s bombers on Japanese bases at Cape Gloucester, on the western tip of New Britain and Finschhafen, on the coast of the Huon Peninsula, in New Guinea, are reported in today’s communique from the South-west Pacific headquarters. The heaviest 'blow on Sunday was struck by Liberators and Flying Fortresses at. Cape. Gloucester, where aerodrome dispersal points and supply and bivouac areas were blasted with 94 tons ot" bombs. Five enemy bombers aud a fighter were caught in the concentrated bombing and two anti-aircraft positions were destroyed and aliother silenced. Aiany large aud small fires were caused and ’a huge pall of smoke over the target was visible for 70 miles. There was no enemy interception and all the bombers returned. Beaufighters strafed an aerodrome at Kimbe Bay, on the north coast of New Britain, scoring direct hits on supply dumps, anti-aircraft positions and surface craft on the beach.. One .fighter was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Liberator, Alarauder and Mitchell bombers attacked the whole Finschhafen area in New Guinea, including the aerodrome, the town, a number of. surreunding villages, and surface craft in the harbour. The bombers dropped 21 tons of explosives and also strafed the targets. Neither damage nor casualties A ras caused in a feeble night raid on Port Aloresby by two Japanese bombers. It was Port Aloresby’s first raid for a month. General MacArthur’s bombers were also active on Sunday in the northwestern sector of the South-west Pacific. Attack on Ambon. In an attack before dawn, heavy bombers dumped 26 tons of explosives on the town and seaplane base at Ambon, Amboina Island, in the Dutch East Indies, causing numerous large fires and explosions. . An aerodrome and warships at Narnlea, Boeroe Island, were raided at night by Allied bombers, which scored direct hits on the targets aud started large fires. Air activity in the central Solomons on Sunday was on a reduced scale. Enemy gun positions on Kolombangara Island were bombed and strafed by Admiral Halsey’s medium torpedo and dive-bombers, causing large fires and explosions. Twelve Japanese bombers made several night raids on the Munda area in New Georgia and on Barakoma, on A ella Lavella. Only minor damage was caused and there were no casualties. In a fierce dogfight on Saturday between American Corsair and Japanese Zero fighters over Ballale aerodrome, on Bougainville Island, Major Gregory Boyington, of the tinted States Marine Corps, shot J? o ''!’ five Zeros single-handed, reports a South Pacific war correspondent. Other pilots of Boyington’s squadron bagged six more Zeros. • Boyington destroyed six Japanese bombers in China while flying with Alajor-General Chennault's"Plying Tigers. . In four days’ air operations in the Solomons, the Japanese have lost .68 planes. The Allied losses in the period were 14 aircraft, but four of thq pilots were saved. . Allied troops at several points north of Lae have contacted parties, of Japanese endeavouring to escape into the mountains. In each ease the Japanese have run into our troops who are blocking the trails and, according to official reports, the enemy lias been “reduced. Japanese from the Salamaua area have been attacked and destroyed south of the Alarkham River, and some prisoners have been taken.