SECOND RAID IN TWO DAYS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 7

SECOND RAID IN TWO DAYS

Attack On Formosa WASHINGTON, October 16. A large force of Super-Fortresses from bases in China today returned to Formosa for the second time in 4b hours and attacked military targets at Okayaina and Heito, says a Twentieth Air Force communique. The weather was good and very good bombing results were °^Vt'okayama the bombers attacked the same targets as on October 14. Heito is an important Japanese airfield and air supply depot. Photographic reconnaissauce reveals that there were excellent results at Okayama. Thirty-seven buildings were destroyed and 16 others heavily damaged, constituting approximately two-thirds of the target. '• Regarding the four Super-Fortresses previously reported missing, two are sate and 10 of the 11 men forming the crew of the third bailed out. Thus the crew of only one Super-Fortress was lost on two missions in 48 hours, in spite of the fact that the heaviest bomb-loads were carried. The Pacific Fleet communique says that American carrier planes attacking the Philippines destroyed another 89 to 104 Japanese planes, bringing the total enemy aircraft shot down or destroyed on the ground to over 700 for the past week of widespread raids in Japan’s home waters, says a Washington message. The communique states that fighter aircraft swept Aparri, on the north coast of Luzon,‘on October 13. Only five aircraft were observed on the ground, and all were destroyed. No airborne enemy opposition was encountered. Attack Near Manila. On October 15 a larpe force of carrier aircraft was launched against airfields in the vicinity ot Manila Bay. This force was intercepted by about 50 Japanese fighters. Front 30 to 40 of the intercepting enemy planes were shot down, and an additional 15 to 20 enemy planes were destroyed on the ground at Nichols, Nielson and Marivelles airfields. The communique adds that on Saturday Mitchells bombed installations on the south coast of Paramushiro. Later two Liberators al tacked wharves and shipping installations on the north-east coast of Paramushiro and other Liberators attacked Iwojima and Moen Islands in the Truk atoll.