LAND NEW TROOPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20958, 4 December 1942, Page 3

LAND NEW TROOPS

PLANES POUND SHIPS 23 JAP. FIGHTERS DOWN (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 4. Japanese naval forces making the sixth attempt to land shock troop reinforcements and supplies for the beleaguered Buna fortress garrison have been driven off. If any enemy reinforcements were put ashore, they are officially described as “small and not sufficient to alter the land situation.” The most spectacular sea and air action of the New Guinea campaign raged about the convoy. Large numbers of enemy lighters provided an air umbrella. The Allied aircraft 'in ceaseless attacks shot down 23 Zeros and damaged many others. Our losses are stated to have been light despite the lighter and antiaircraft opposition. The full composition of the Japanese convov has not been revealed, but it is stated to have been “shepherded by destroyers.” These destroyers were first sighted about midday on Tuesday off Gasmata, New Britain, and from that point onwards they were shadowed relentlessly and attacked continuously for some 15 hours. Only one direct hit on a destroyer has been claimed, but several near misses are believed to have caused damage. Early on Wednesday morning the convov was seen 40 miles off the coast from Buna and steaming north-west.

The first attack on the Japanese ships was made by Flying Fortresses which were engaged by 20 Zeros. In this opening clash five enemy fighters were shot down and a sixth probably destroyed. When North American bombers swept into the attack, three more Zeros were destroyed. Dramatic Night Action

The official reports do not list each successive action, but one of the most dramatic is stated to- have occurred when the convoy came close to the coast at Buna under the cover ol darkness. As our bombers roared down in low-level attacks, the enemy ships zig-zagged wildly in an effort to dodge the falling bombs. The darkness was split by rockets, flares, and intensive anti-aircraft fire as the destroyers tried to beat off the raiding aircraft. At this stage it is possible that some reinforcements and, perhaps, stores were put ashore, but the number of troops could not have been large since the enemy vessels were kept always cn the move. The greatest number of barges sighted was 12.

Observers report having seen an explosion on a destroyer. In the late stages of the battle, Beaufighters swooped low over the destroyers, spraying the decks with machinegun fire. Havocs then took up the attack and just before daylight on Wednesday Liberator bombers delivered blows at the convoy as it steamed northwards. Throughout all these attacks by night as well as by day, an umbrella of Zeros was over the enemy ships. The maintenance of this protection must have required the greatest number o' Japanese fighters yet used in the New Guinea campaign.