WAU-MUBO AIR ATTACK

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1943, Page 5

WAU-MUBO AIR ATTACK

By 98 Jap. Planes ALLIES MAINTAIN WIDESPREAD RAIDS. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 8.50.) SYDNEY, May 16. The Japanese air force has transferred its attentions in New Guinea to the Wau—Mubo area, where intensified land fighting is in progress. Fighting began at the end of January, when the Japanese were driven back with heavy casualties after a disastrous attempt to capture Wau aerodrome. General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports two attacks on this area on Saturday, made by a total of ninety-eight enemy aircraft. The number of planes employed strikingly indicates that, despite their continued heavy combat losses, the Japanese are maintaining their air strength in the area north of Australia. Referring to the attack on Wau the communique says:— “Twenty enemy bombers, escorted bv fourteen fighters bombed the area in the morning. Our forces sustained neither damage nor casualties.” Still stronger enemy air formations raided Allied positions around Bobdubi, a small village recently occupied by the Australian forces. Sharp ground clashes have been developing’ in this area for several days. However, Saturday was the first occasion when enemy aircraft have supported their troops in this area. Allied planes have harried Japanese ground forces incessantly. A communique reports:. “The enemy launched a heavy attack shortly after dawn, with: nine bombers and fifteen fighters, followed later by forty divebombers.” No mention is made of Allied fighter interception in either of these attacks,, nor is there reference to pny damage or casualties caused by the Bobdubi raid. However, Japanese aircraft which clashed with Allied planes over other South-west Pacific sectors on Saturday took heavy punishment. Seven were shot down, and three others were probably destroyed. Japanese intercepting fighters _ were active vhile enemy bombers made other jmall nuisance raids.