MADE IN DAYLIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1942, Page 5

MADE IN DAYLIGHT

LATEST ALLIED RAID

CANBERRA, June 10. A report from the operational base says that yesterday's Allied attack in the New Guinea area was the longest and most «sustained daylight raid yet carried out in the south-west Pacific. The Japanese attempted desperately to prevent the bombers from reaching the target areas, and lost at least eight of the latest-type Zeros, which were seen to crash. Another disappeared through clouds in flames, a tenth, had its propeller shot off far out at sea, and three others were damaged. A strong force of Allied fighters accompanied the bombers over Salarriaua, shooting down five Zeros in the first attempt to intercept pur machines. The Japanese used a loose formation after three of their planes had crashed into the sea, and they made no further attempts to interfere. \ The bombers, however, struck a stronger formation of Zeros in tight echelon formation, with a single Zero in the rear. The Zeros and Allied fighters soon mixed in a series of dogfights, but the enemy broke off the engagement after two of his planes went ■ down in flames. Simultaneously, dogfights occurred over Lac. Our bombers, despite the heavy clouds, dropped high explosives and incendiaries.