U.S. AIR VICTORY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21149, 17 July 1943, Page 3

U.S. AIR VICTORY

SOLOMONS BATTLE

JAPS. LOSE 45 PLANES CLEAR SUPERIORITY (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 17. The superiority held by the Allied air force in the Solomons area was remarkably displayed yesterday when 45 Japanese planes were destroyed in a big battle over Rendciva Island. Only three Allied planes were lost. Enemy formations totalling between 80 and 90 aircraft were intercepted by fewer than 45 Allied fighters. The spokesman at South Pacific Headquarters, according to dispatches from America, has revealed that the Allies are holding quantitive as well as qualitive air superiority in the central Solomons. Our planes have been destroying Japanese machines at a ratio of better than eight to one. This is reported by war correspondents in the area.

The spokesman added that the Japanese, by massing all the air strength they are known to have available in the south and South-west Pacific areas, could probably attain numerical superiority at a given time and place —but such efforts so far have proved extremely costly to the Japanese. During the past 14 days 211 enemy planes have been destroyed in the Solomons,

The stiffening resistance being encountered by the American troops attacking Munda could be interpreted as meaning that a greater number of prepared strong-points were being met rather .than that the enemy garrigan had been reinforced, added the spokesman. Short, deadly clashes continue to mark the fighting on New Georgia. At Batuna, on Vangunu Island, 150 Japanese were killed in brief skirmishes. The first of these occurred when two American tank lighters intercepted a landing barge l carrying 50 enemy troops. In a hot exchange of fire, the barge was sunk and it is believed that all the soldiers aboard perished. The troops ashore in the same area discovered two more enemy barges, each carrying 50 soldiers. The barges were in enclosed water up-river, awaiting a chance to sneak out to sea. All the enemy troops were either killed or drowned when their riddled barges sank under them.

A war correspondent suggests that all these enemy troops were trying to escape from New Georgia. General MacArthur’s communique reveals the loss of the destroyer Gwin following the naval action in Kula Gulf early on Tuesday morning. The Japanese lost one light cruiser, three destroyers sunk and two destroyers probably sunk. General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports the following operations in the Solomons:— .

“New Georgia.—Our dive-bombers attacked enemy position at BairokO with 1000 and 20001 b, explosive bombs and then thoroughly strafed the area. Our forces are continuing to advance towards Munda aerodrome against heavy enemy resistance. On Wednesday night an enemy counter-attack was repulsed. Four enemy guns were destroyed by our artillery.

Kolombangara.—Our torpedo bombers and dive-bombers attacked Vila aerodrome and the adjacent bivouac areas with 54 tons of explosive bombs, which started fires which were observed to be still burning 90 minutes later.

“Rendova Island.—Our fighters intercepted and dispersed an enemy formation of 27 medium bombers and 50 to 60 Zeros shortly after noon, shooting down 15 bombers and 30 fighters. Three of our planes failed to return. “Vella Lavella.—Our medium units, with a fighter escort, attacked two small enemy cargo vessels off Baga Island, sinking one and leaving .the other burning on a reef and strafed and sank two enemy barges near Ganongga Island. Enemy outpost positions on Ganongga were strafed. Gater, a flight of our fighters sighted and attacked an enemy barge near Pakoi Bay, leaving it burning fiercely.”