RAID ON WEWAK FIELDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1943, Page 5

RAID ON WEWAK FIELDS

HEAVY JAP PLANE LOSSES (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 9 a.m. SYDNEY, August 18.

/Reporting the sensational destruction of Japanese aircraft at Wewak, General Mac Arthur's communique says: "In a mass attack upon a heavy concentration of enemy air groups in the Wewak area over 225 aeroplanes and their crews were surprised on the ground and the greater part of the force destroyed. Our reconnaissance revealed that the enemy had moved heavy reinforcements to his four airfields at Borum, But, Dagua, and Wewak.

"Many of his planes were parked wingtip to wingtip on the runways, apparently in preparation for an early decisive air stroke ih support of his ground troops in the New Guinea areas.

"Acting instantly, our air units concentrated for a night attack. The surprise was complete. Over 10,000 fragmentation and incendiary bombs caused vast havoc in and around the aerodromes and dispersal areas. The whole peninsula was encompassed by fires visible for 150 miles.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. "At Wewak field six fighters took off, three of which were shot down. Photographs reveal the total destruction of 120 planes and severe damage to at least another 50. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Japanese air and ground crews who were completely surprised and unable to escape machine-gun and bombing attacks as our planes strafed and restrafed the fields in numberless" passes.

"It is estimated that 1500 enemy, air personnel were killed."