LAE & RABAUL

Grey River Argus, 25 May 1942, Page 5

LAE & RABAUL

Again Raided TWO PLANES LOST. (Rec. 12.5). CANBERRA, May 24. Successful Allied air attacks on Lae and Rabaul .were described in Saturday’s communique from tile Allied Headquarters. In a new communique issued on Sunday, the G.H.Q. reported: There has been a continuance of our air activity. . •'

Amboir.a: Our Air Force here attacked shipping. In a strong enemy interception, three enemy fighter planes were destroyed. One of cur planes was lost in combat

Lae: Our Air Force struck at Lae Aerodrome, severely damaging two large bombers. Buildings were demolished. Eight enemy fighters failed to stop an attack. One of our planes has not returned.

Friday’s Raids SEVEN ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED. TWO SHIPS HIT. CANBERRA, Mav 24. The Allied forces are maintaining then- attacks -against enemy concentrations at Lae in New Guinea and at Rabul in New Britain. These are the main Japanese bases for their operations against Port Moresby, Saturday’s High Command communique reported that two Japanese heavy bombers were destroyed and six were badly damaged, and five fighters were destroyed in Friday’s raids. An oil tanker and a transport were hit as well.

In a raid on Lae on Friday two enemy bombers were destroyed on the aerodrome, while a tanker in the harbour was severely damaged. Eight Zero fighters intercepted the Allied planes. Five of the- enemy machines were shot down. All the Allied planes returned. At Rabul on Friday, six enemy heavy bombers were badly damaged, and a large transport in the harbour was left in a crippled condition. Attempts were made by enemy fighter planes to intercept the Allied bombers, they failed. i/ih attack on Lae on Friday again took the enemy by surprise, but a pack of Bandit Zero planes intercepted the Allied planes just as they were about to leave for home. However, an American war correspondent states: “They found our modern bombers, w ! th tail turrets, were not ‘basement bargains in fighter pilots.’ ” While five enemy fighters were shot down none of our planes was seriously damaged. There was a single casualty. A rear gunner wounded.

U.S. Bombers

DEFENDING AUSTRALIA.

(Special). (Rec. 1.10.) SYDNEY, May 24. Some of America’s newest and fastest long-range bombers are now in operation against the enemy in the north of Australia. Their speed is said to be comnarable to that of-the Zero fighter- ’planes. The bombers were shipped to Australia in crates, and assembled, and then were flown thousands of miles to their _ operational bases. Their range is two thousand miles. They carry three tons of bombs. . Extensive reconnaissance activ 1ties by the Allied Air Force is reported. Details of these reconnmssances. covering thousands of miles each day, have not been released.