JAP. ATTACK AT WAU

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1943, Page 5

JAP. ATTACK AT WAU

Allied Planes also Active [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 9.55.) SYDNEY, May 18 Japanese air raiders appeared in force again on Monday, when twen-ty-two bombers, escorted by twentyone fighters attacked Wau aerodrome in northern New Guinea. Slight damage and casualties are reported ip to-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s) Headquarters. The raiders dropped two hundred light bombs, and made off quickly alter a rapid bombing run. Allied aircraft naid another damaging call on the enemv aerodrome in Gasmata, New Britain, destroying a bomber caught on the ground. Flying Fortresses and Mitchell medium bombers made the attacks. Allied raiders were also active north-west of Australia. Damaging attacks were made on Koepang ana Dilli, aerodromes in Timor, while at Langgoer, in the Kei Islands. Beaufighters destroyed three Zeros caught on the ground. Three Japanese aircraft bombed and strafed the Mapoi Post area a hundred miles inland from the Allied south New Guinea base of Merauke

Raid on Moresby

ALLIED NIGHT FIGHTERS IN ACTION. SYDNEY, May 18. Allied night fighters went into action. for the first time in New Guinea when four Japanese bombers raided Port Moresby last Friday night. One bomber was shot down by a night fighter and another destroyed by anti-aircraft fire. The Allied pilot who brought down a bomber was Second Lieutenant B. W. Adams (Ulionis). It was his first operation.

Adams said: “When I first saw the bombers they were about 2000 feet ahead, and 1 dived to attack ‘from 1800 feet. One bomber dived and I could still see its silhouette standing against a background of cloud. I followed him down and gave him everything I had. He burst into flames and I saw him spinning out of control through the clouds like a flaming torch.”

The Japanese in the South-west Pacific are now flying “Japs” a new type of Zero, with a more powerful engine than its predecessors. This has been revealed by Australia’s leading fighter ace, Wing Commander Clive Caldwell. “The enemy fighter is a hotted-up sort of Zero, squarer in the wing tips than the old Zero and more powerful,” he said. “They are good aircraft —but not as good as the Spitfire. The Spitfire is faster and can climb higher.”

Caldwell, who has taken part in recent battles between Spitfires and Jauanese raiders over- Darwin, is in Sydney on leave. He destroyed 24 i aircraft, German, Italian, and Japanese.

An Australian Beaufighter pilot is reported to have dived from the clouds to within ten feet of a Japanese submarine cruising on the surface in New Guinea waters. He raked the craft with cannon and machinegun fire, and killed sailors who were manning a deck gun. The submarine crash-dived to avoid further attack

JAP. SHIPS SUNK. 8.0.W. RUGBY, May 17. The sinking of Japanese ships including a destroyer is recorded in a United States Navy communique which states:' Avengers _attacked four cargo vessels on May 15, in the Buin area. One ship was set on fire.

American submarines have reported actions in the Pacific and Far East. They sunk one destroyer, one large and one medium-sized cargo ship, one medium transport, one small passenger freighter, and one small escort vessel, and damaged a large tanker.