SHARP FORAYS OVER RABAUL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 114, 9 February 1944, Page 5

SHARP FORAYS OVER RABAUL

N.Z. Warhawks Destroy Three Zeros (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) BOUGAINVILLE, February 6. - Seeking to interfere during Allied raids against Rabaul, three Japanese Zeros have fallen to New Zealand Warhawk guns in two days. R.N.Z.A.F. and Japanese fighters met in sharp forays when the New Zealanders were providing es-. cort cover to Allied bomber forces. _ Good shooting by Flying Officer A. R. Walker, Wanganui, put a sudden end to a fleeing Zero making for its base on Rabaul. It was the only enemy aircraft which came within range of New Zealand Warhawks covering an Allied Dauntless dive-bomber attack against Tobera airfield. Before reaching the target, the New Zealanders saw above them several Zeros .which engaged the top cover of Corsairs. Enemy fighters followed the Allied aircraft over the target but did not attempt to interfere. As the Allied striking force sped away toward Kabanga Bav, several lone Zeros .were being attacked high up by the Corsairs. One Zero 2000 ft. above the Warhawks evaded tour Corsairs and fled in a shallow dive toward Tobera. As he Dulled out of his dive he approached Walker who fired a short burst from about 100yds. The Zero burst into flames v flicked over and dived into the sea. 7 , . Our Warhawks accounted for two Zeros on the previous day when the New Zealanders were providing close cover tor Dauntless and Avenger aircraft which struck at Tobera and Vanupopo, with good results. After the bombing run, about eight Zeros got through our fighter screen’, but did not press home any attacks. Sergeant T. A. Stephenson Napier, scored hits on a Zero attemptin rt to run through the Allied formation and the enemy fighter plunged into sea. Another Zero shared the sanm fate when H was struck head-on by flro from 1 Lieutenant H. E. Boucher, Auckland. Though general fighting continued halfway to Cape St. George, the enemy eventually broke off his attempts to „et through the fighter cover to the Allied dive-bombers.

WEWAK AND RABAUL Further Destructive Raids (Received February 8, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 8. Japanese ships and barges in the Wewak, north-east New Guinea, area, . have been pounded in a devastating Allied air attack. Earlier raids had.practically neutralized Wewak as an enemy air base. In their latest blow, which was struck on Saturday, our planes destroyed more than 30 bargee and a 2000-ton freighter (possibly a, troop carrier bringing in replacements), as well as setting fire to two small coastal vessels and a corvette. Japanese air interference was light, but the fighters' covering the Allied bombers ehot down four enemy machines. At Hansa Bay, midway between Wewak and Madang, our medium bombers and fighters sweeping the coast sank a Japanese coastal vessel and four barges. Near Madang, enemy island installations were hit with 68 tons of explosives.. Momote aerodrome at Lorengau, in the Admiralty Islands, north of New Guinea, was the target for 81 tons of bombs. Rabaul, New Britain, on Saturday was again attacked by more than 150 of our (Solomons-based aircraft. Nearly 40 tons of bombs were concentrated on Lakunai aerodrome. Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered, but the enemy fighter defence was weak. Seven enemy planes were shot down and four others probably destroyed. Four Allied planes were lost.

CONVERGING FORCES

Allied Progress In New Guinea (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received February 8, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 8. Japanese dead have been found at. many points of the trail along the Rai coast in New Guinea as Australians from Sio press forward to meet the Americans moving down from Saidor. The two forces are now only 16 air miles apart? with the Australians at Lapsius Point and the Americans at Yagomai. Between them is a coastal strip of rolling kunai grass intersected with streams which do not, however, offer any serious obstacle. Neither Allied is encountering any opposition. The Australians are now 36 miles beyond Sio. Most of the Japanese in this coastal area have died from starvation and disease. _ . At Cape Gloucester, western New Britain, more ground has been gained by American marines. Most of the Borgen Bay area has now been cleared of the enemy and Allied patrols have penetrated to Cape Gauffe. nine miles west of Natamo Point. ' It is revealed that the Americans have been using trained Alsatian dogs for patrol work. These dogs have saved the marines from many ambushes and have filled major roles in discovering Japanese stragglers. The enemy withdrawing from Natamo Point made such a hasty night that thev had no time to destroy the luxury headquarters of their commander, General Matsuda. The general slept on an' Bin. thick padded mattress and his bedroom suite was of polished wood. From his special arched prayer room he could view the setting sun during the hour of meditation. So rapid was the last stage of the American advance that Matsuda fled, leaving behind precious ammunition and equipment. His personal gear, including kimonos and books, remained in his quarters. Food supplies taken included stores bearing British, Dutch and American labels.