40 PLANES LOST

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 310, 25 September 1943, Page 7

40 PLANES LOST

Japanese Reverse In

New Guinea

ATTACK ON ALLIED CONVOY

(By Telegraph.--Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received September 24, 11 p.m.) - SYDNEY, September 24. One of the fiercest air combats of the South-west Pacific war, in which 40 Japanese plaues were destroyed and live probably destroyed over the linsehliafen area of New Guinea, is reported in today’s communique trout General MacArthur. The battle broke when between -0 and 30 Japanese bombers, escorted by from 30 to 40 fighters, came over as Allied naval units were withdrawing after covering the landing of Australian troops six miles north of the enemy's Pinsehliafen base. Allied fighteis intercepted, and for 25 minutes dogfights raged at altitudes up to 2i.ooott Anti-aircraft guns of the ships in the convoy joined in the action. Not one ship was damaged and ™ ‘-•asua'Des w ert suffered. Of tlie three Allied fighters lost, the pilot of one was saved. More than «»<»<> Japanese dead have already been counted in the ‘‘l maim area of New Guinea and the final estimates will be very much greater. About <3OO of the enemy who are behuul to be scattered in the hills north ol Lac are being hunted down.

The Australian troops advancin„ on Finsehhafen have reached the north ' en 1 of an airfield two miles north ot the town which is uow under artillery fire. Japanese resistance is being rapidly reduced. Allied aircraft in close support of the troops dropped 21 tons of bombs and filed more than 48,000 rounds of ammunition on ground targets. Damaging Raids.

In a neutralizing four-hour, raid to cover the Finsehhafen operation, Allied bombers pounded the Japanese.aerodrome at Cape Gloucester. New Britain, with <3 tons of bombs, and strafed the targets with 15,000 rounds of machinegun fire. One enemy plane was destroyed on the "round. Euel dumps were burnt and direct hits scored on anti-aircraft positions. Under cover of darkness six enemy planes attacked the Buna area in New Guinea, causing damage and casualties. General MacArthur’s bombers made two successful raids in the north-western sector of the Pacific. Langgoer aerodrome, in the Kai Islands, was hammered bv heavy bombers, which also shot down six of 12 intercepting enemy fighters and damaged two others. One bomber was lost. Many direct hits were scored by our heavy bombers in a raid on Halong aerodrome, on Amboina Island. Twenty-three tons of bombs were unloaded on the target area. On reconnaissance off New Ireland, Allied aircraft attacked a small enemy cargo ship, leaving it on fire and sinking. In the central Solomons Admiral Halsey’s fighters made a surprise strafing attack on Kahili aerodrome, on Bougainville Island, probably destroying eight enemy planes caught on the ground. Allied heavy units bombed runway, dispersal and revetment areas on Buka Island, north of Bougainville, starting many fires. Enemy fighters intercepted and two were shot down. All our planes returned.

Two sweeps along the coast of Choiseul Island were made by fighters, which burnt four enemy barges, damaged five others and strafed a cargo vessel, leaving it burning. Japanese planes raided Guadalcanal for the third time this week. The attack on the aerodrome caused damage and casualties. Allied: night fighters shot down two bombers.

Enemy bombers attempted without success to attack Allied ground installations nt Munda. New Georgia. Night, fighters destroyed one of the raiders.