HEAVY SHIP LOSS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21605, 6 January 1945, Page 3

HEAVY SHIP LOSS

ENEMY IN PHILIPPINES AIRFIELDS BATTERED WIDESPREAD ATTACKS (10 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Jan. 5. The air force again struck heavily at enemy shipping at Subic Bay and Lingayen Gulf on Luzon Island, says General MacArthur’s communique. Twenty-five freighters and transports, aggregating 57.000 tons, plus a seaplane carrier, three naval escorts, a coastal vessel, and five luggers were sunk or severely damaged. The Americans lost two planes.

Escorted heavy bombers continued the reduction of the Clark Field air centre, destroying 20 enemy fighters in the dispersal areas. There was no interception. Enemy planes at night attacked airfield and shipping installations on Mindoro Island, inflicting damage. The aircraft defences shot down three enemy planes. Medium bombers and fighters bombed and strafed Negros and Cebu Island aerodromes, destroying 12 planes. Gun positions were silenced and hits were scored on supply dumps, starting fires. One bomber was lost to “flak.” Light naval units attacked enemy small shipping westward, sinking one small freighter, two coastal vessels, a lugger, and 12 barges. Reconnaissance planes bombed shipyards at Sandakan, in Borneo, starting fires. Heavy bombers struck at Manado township in the Celebes, hitting warehouses. Heavy, medium and lighterbombers struck at aerodromes, supplies and defences in the Haimaheras. Runways were cratered and gun emplacements hit. Large fires and explosions were started in the storage areas.

Air patrol planes bombed airfield and defence installations at Luiloro and Atapoepoe on Timor and damaged buildings on Saumlaki in Tanimbara. Medium and attack bombers hit enemy-occupied villages in the Wewak and Scpik areas. Medium and fighter-bombers destroyed motor vehicles at Rnbaul. and bombed and strafed troop and supply concentrations m New Ireland. Bougainville and Choiseul.