ZEROS DRIVEN OFF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21092, 12 May 1943, Page 4

ZEROS DRIVEN OFF

RAID ON 'DROME TOLL OF SPITFIRES ALLIES BOMB BABO (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY. May 12. Five Spitfires and one Beaufighter shat out of action three of nine Japanese fighters which made a fresh attack on the new Allied air-strip at Miliingimbi Island, 300 miles east of Darwin, on Monday morning. They damaged two others. One Spitfire was lost, but the pilot is safe. The second enemy attack on Miliingimbi was reported in General McArthur's communique. The Spitfires were forced to go into action while actually making height, putting them under a great disadvantage, so that their performance in driving off the raiders is . regarded as a distinct achievement. Only slight damage was caused when the air-strip was strafed by Zeros. A few hours later three Zeros ineffectually attacked an Allied convoy off the coast in the same area. They were driven off by the ships anti-aircraft fire. One Zero was damaged. In a daring night sweep on Babo, the important enemy base in Dutch New Guinea, Catalinas bombed the wharf and aerodrome areas to such good effect that on the airfield alone 20 separate fires, believed to be blazing planes, were caused. The fires, which were started when oil tanks were hit, were visible 80 miles away. One explosion shook the Catalinas flying at 6000 ft. The damage is believed to have been considerable. On the way home after a long round trip flight from their base, the Catalinas strafed the enemy base m Dobo and a coastal vessel oft Kaimana. , , The communique also reports a number of attacks by our heavy bombers on armed reconnaissance. Four Japanese planes raided Allied positions at Milne Bay and Mappi Post, in. New Guinea, but did no damage.