SUPPORTING AIR ATTACKS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 121, 17 February 1944, Page 5

SUPPORTING AIR ATTACKS

Enemy Bases Plastered <*"• -'i”l Australian Correspondent.) (Received February 16, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 16. While the entire -Solomons chain was being cut off from Rabaul by the Green Islands landing, Allied air forces neutralized Japanese air bases under devastating bombing attacks. More titan 200 Solo-mons-based planes made the second heaviest strike of the current air campaign against Rabaul.' i In a co-ordinated midday attack the Vunakanau, Tobera and Lakunai aerodromes were the targets for 171 tons of explosives. Destruction to the installations was heavy. Eight grounded enemy planes were destroyed or damaged. Out of 40 intercepting fighters we shot down seven, with five probables. Three Allied fighters were destroyed. In an attack on Kavieng, Mitchells dropped 113 tons of bombs on the Kavieng and Panapai aerodromes, starting great, fires. No Japanese fighters came up. In the Admiralty Islands, Momote airfield was hit with 90 tons of bombs. Again there was no Japanese air interference.

When our escorted attack planes struck a t the Borain airfield at Wewak six of 20 enemy interceptors were shot down and three other enemy planes were destroyed or damaged. United (States Navy Catalina left a 1000-ton freighter beached in a sinking condition near Sepik River New Guinea.