JAP. AERIAL LOSSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 May 1943, Page 5

JAP. AERIAL LOSSES

MANY AREAS BOMBED LAE DROME HARD HIT SYDNEY, May 17. Six Japanese bombers and four fighters were caught on the grouncj by Allied Boston attack bombers and Mitchell medium bombers which raided the Lae aerodrome on Saturday afternoon. The attack is reported in General MacArthur’s communique to-day. Our air crews saw many fires, indicating that extensive damage was done in the raid. As well as the grounded aircraft, enemy installations were targets for Allied bombers. Three seperate sweeps were made by our aeroplanes. Liberators made a noon raid on the aerodrome dispersal areas at Kawieng, New Ireland, and a night raid was made on Vunakanau aerodrome, at Rabaul, in New Britain. Rabaul and Kawieng are the main bases for enemy bombers raiding Allied positions in New Guinea. Flying Fortresses on Sunday again bombed and strafed enemy aerodromes at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester, in New Britain, which are intermediate bases for raiding Japanese aeroplanes. The bridge over the Kumul River on the enemy’s New Guinea coastal supply road, near Madang, was again attacked by a Liberator unit. Mitchells returning from a bombing mission on Sunday attacked 10 Japanese bombers escorted by two Zeros off the east coast of Papua, near Cape Ward Hunt, about 50 miles north of Buna. They shot down a Ze¥d and damaged one bomber. Explosions and large fires visible lor 50 miles were caused when ■ our heavy bombers attacked the aerodrome at Kendari, in Celebes. Kendari is an important Japanese aircraft assembly point.

INCREASING ACTIVITY

SYDNEY, May 17

The air war is again mounting m New Guinea with a return of Japanese activity over almost all parts of the north-eastern sector of General MacArthur’s Command. During the last three days our aircraft have encountered Japanese aeroplanes on patrolling, reconnaissance, and bombing missions over many areas. Al least 24 enemy aeroplanes have been destroyed in combat and 11 others probably destroyed. In addition, many are believed to have been destroyed on the ground. Significantly, Allied bombing attacks during the last few days have been aimed principally at Japanese offensive bases from Kendari, in Celebes, in the west, to Kawieng, in New Ireland, and Rabaul, in New Britain, in the The American fighter unit which destroyed 10 enemy aircraft during the Japanese raid on Oro Bay oni Friday has now shot down 225 Japanese aeroplanes in its 14 months m the South-west Pacific area. This unit was first stationed in the Darwin area. A voting first lieutenant, John Hardy Griffith, of Chicago, who made his first kill over Oro Bay, had a busv morning. In shooting down a Zero after a desperate dogfight, his .own aeroplane was so badly damaged that he was forced to make a belly landing. He skidded 150 feet over the ground and walked away unhurt. Sixteen bullet holes weie found near the cockpit of his aero--11 Flying conditions over New Guinea have been generally adverse in recent weeks. This limits Australian ground activity in the Mubo area. For the time being Allied movement is limited by the number of men who can be maintained there with supplies and equipment. Under reasonable flying conditions a fair force can be maintained, but when the weather closes down over the ranges the passage of supplies is heavily reduc|ed and reserves dwindle quickly.

FIGHTING IN NEW GUINEA

(.X.Z.I’.A. Special Australian Correspondent)

SYDNEY, May 17. Japanese land forces on Saturday attempted to break the Allied siege of Mubo, the main enemy defence outpost in New Guinea. Raids by strong formations of bombers, divebombers and fighters were made to cover ground attacks aimed at dislodging the Australians from their ‘ Bobdubi positions astride the supply trail Jinking Mubo, Komiatum and Salamaua. Supported by strong mortar fn-e Japanese troops attacked in some force in the Bobdubi bridge area but they paid heavily for the little gwrund they gained. It is estimated that 60 Japanese were killed and many more were wounded. Later reports said that the Australians were coumeraflacking and that a see-saw battle was in progress. The enemy divebombing was concentrated on the Kunda or Bobdubi bridge, a rough structure over the swift Francisco River, a bridge south-west ol EobdulV village, and the Allied troop positions in the area. Most of the bombs exploded harmlessly in the , jungle and the Australian casualties are reported officially to be “very slight/ 5 Australian patrols from Bobdubi have been playing havoc with Japanese supply columns and the enemy's combined land and air attacks represent a very serious effort to drive the Australians out of the Bobdubi area. However, there is no indication at present that the Japanese activity presages anything more than an attempt to remove the threat to their Mubo supply line.

FIGHTING IN ALEUTIANS

WASHINGTON, May 17. Although official news is still lacking about the American invasion of Attu, in the Aleutians, Washington official circles are confident of early victory. Only one communique’ has been issued since the island was invaded last Tuesday, and that, issued on Friday, merely stated that fighting was in progress. ’’Observers accept the absence ol communiques as suggesting that log and other adverse weather conditions have halted air and sea support for the Americans. But all believe that the battle continues on shove against the Japanese forces dug into the rocky crevices abounding on the island. In contrast to the confidence m Washington, Tokio broadcasts appear to be preparing the Japanese public for bad news, saying that 'their troops are. outnumbered.

JAP. “GAS” ALLEGATION

LONDON, May 17. That the Americans attacking Attu Island used poison gas is a claim made in a report from Attu Is and, says the Berlin radio. . Tokio newspapers point out m big headlines their horror of the American use of gas and say that the Japanese have not used poison gas in any wav at all. 1 The British United Press suggests that the accusation may be merely an excuse for the use of gas against the Americans, but American observers regard the claim as another step in the apparent Axis campaign to prepare, listeners for the loss of the Island. ■■ rl , The Official Tokio Radio says that the Japanese Army spokesman sad [the United States were landing a

steady stream of reinforcements at Attu under cover of air and naval bombardfhent. The Japanese, however, were holding the positions and had made a number of damaging counter-attacks against tremendous numerical odds. The Radio added that MajorGeneral Yahagi says the main American attacking force at Attu Island on Wednesday landed on the sputh coast, moved inland, and attacked Japanese positions. They were driven back to the beach the same night. A pitched battle occurred between the Japanese and another American force which landed simultaneously on the north coast, and that a third American force which attempted to I land on the east coast was arniI hilated.