JAPANESE LOSSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20822, 29 June 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE LOSSES

AT PORT MORESBY TEN BOMBERS DOWN ALLIED COUNTER BLOWS (By Telegraph—Preßß Asan.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 29. The Japanese made an expensive raid on Port Moresby on Friday afternoon with a force of 18 heavy bombers. It is believed that six to 10 of the raiding bombers were destroyed. Bombs were dropped in the aerodrome area, but no serious damage was done. This was the sixty-fifth attack on Port Moresby. Twelve Zero fighters accompanied the bombers, the attackers being intercepted by a smaller force of our fighters. A running fight was continued as far as Buna, near Salamaua. Four Allied planes are missing, but the pilots of two parachuted to safety. A communique issued by Allied General Headquarters on Saturday also reveals that the damage caused on 'Thursday night in the moonlight raid on Salamaua, when enemy troop quarters and supply points were attacked, was much heavier than ongmaily claimed. In addition, an lenemy supuly ship approaching Lae was bombed and machine-gunned in ■ a low-lev°i attack. It is believed that two direct hits were scored on the snip's bridge. It is now revealed that an Allied bomber which made the recent longrange reconnaissance flight over Kendari, in the south-east Celebes, had to fight off three Japanese Zeros for almost an hour. The bomber was forced down very close to the sea, hut escaped. The rear-gunners claim to have damaged the speedy Japanese fighters. A light night bombing attack was made by our air force against dispersed enemy supply units, anti-air-craft positions and troop billets at Lae and Salamaua, but the results were not observed. “Scatter” bombs were also dropped by our air units on enemy installations at Tulagi, but again the results were not observed.