SMASHING BLITZ

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21150, 19 July 1943, Page 3

SMASHING BLITZ

200 ALLIED PLANES NORTH SOLOMONS SEVEN JAPTSHIPS SUNK 49 PLANES DESTROYED (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 19. Seven Japanese vessels, four of them warships, have been sunk and 49 enemy lighters destroyed in a great Allied air assault on the northern Solomons. Our losses were six planes. Nearly 200 Allied aircraft took part in the attacks on the enemy's Quin-Faisi anchorage. Throughout the night formations of heavy bombers also endeavoured to blanket the Japanese airfields in the area, but the enemy was able to get considerable lighter interception strength into the air. However, in the battle which ensued, his air forces, as well as his naval strength, took its most severe mauling since the beginning of the Allied drive in the Pacific. The result was a smashing Allied victory. Details were given yesterday in General MacArthur’s communique, which stated: — —Bougainville-Buin-Faisi: Daring the night our heavy bombers executed continuous attacks on Kahili aerodrome for nine hours, starting many (ires. Following this preparation, our heavv torpedo bombers and divebombers. in force, with strong fighter cover, attacked enemy shipping in the anchorage with brilliant results. Seven vessels were sunk, comprising one light cruiser, or destroyer leader, two destroyers, a submarine chaser, a tanker and two cargo vessels. The third cargo vessel was damaged and beached. The enemy’s air force in .strength unsuccessfully attempted to protect shipping. Forty-nine enemy fighters were shot down in a great aerial combat which resulted in six of our planes being missing.” Pulverising Air Assault

The Allies are developing a pulverising air offensive throughout the Solomons. On Friday the beseiged lViunda air base received its heaviest blows when more than 100 planes dropped 82 tons of bombs in two big raids. These air blows were struck in direct support of the American troops who are moving forward in pouring rain against Munda defence perimeter. Allied dive-bombers have also operated in direct support of the ground forces in the Bairoki area. Near Vella Lavella, a small Japanese cargo ship was bombed and set on me by one of our aircraft on reconnaissance. , _ . Except for the air battle over BuinFaisi anchorage. General MacArthurs communiques have reported only slight Japanese aerial activity during ihe past 48 hours. Biggest Thrashing Yet

Indicative of the general Allied ailsuperiority in this theatre is the, announcement that the United States Thirteenth Army Force shot down 71 Japanese planes in the Solomons during June for the loss of only three American machines. Although reinforced with front-line pilots, according to war correspondents in the area, the Japanese South Pacific air force is now taking its biggest thrashing. Further Allied lanu progress is re-mn-ted from New Georgia Island. _ Following the victory at Muba in New Guinea, the latest reports from die South-west Pacific Area _ Headquarters tell of patrol activity and (he spokesman said that progress was continuing. The Allied forces are flatting on pressure in the northern sector of the Salamaua area. Our aircraft have raided Japanese posiLions near Bobdubi and on the Sals* maua isthmus.' On Saturday medium bombers dropped 30 tons of explosive bombs on enemy installations at Salairaua Direct hits on ammunition and fuel dumps caused large explosions and numerous fires. When four Japanese aircraft raided Allied stations on Langa Island, they weie driven off by anti-aircraft fire. Langa Island is about 15 miles south ol Nassau Bay. It is one of the points occupied by the Allies in their northerly expansion along the New Guinea coast from Gona.