KAVIENG SET AFIRE

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1944, Page 5

KAVIENG SET AFIRE

JAP SHIPS DESTROYED Eight Allied Planes Lost .15 OF CREWS SAVED. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 9.55) . SYDNEY, Feb. 17. Kavieng, main Japanese base in New Ireland, has been pounded by a large force of Allied planes which left the town “a mass of flames and smoke.’” A 3000-ton cargo ship, three coastal vessels, and several smaller craft in the harbour were sunk. Two float-planes were destroyed. Three others were damaged. The Japanese put up an intense ‘anti-aircraft fire. They brought down eight of the Allied planes. Associated with the shooting down of the Allied planes there was a daring rescue of a number of American airmen by a United States Catalina plane. Piloted by Lieutenant Nathan Gordon, the Catalina made four landings, under heavy fire from enemy shore batteries, and rescued fifteen members of the crews of the planes which had been forced down. Several of the rescued men were injured. Gordon’s Catalina was damabed by rough seas, but he succeeded in getting every Allied airman aboard. C'atalinas accompany all Allied air assault forces for rescue purposes. Japanese shipping has also suffered in the New Guinea zone. A thou-sand-ton freighter was sunk and a submarine-chaser was damaged at Wewak. Seven Zeros were shot down, and two others probably were destroyed in a clash with Allied fighters. A low-level attack on Dagua aerodrome was made last Monday. Twenty-seven grounded Japanese aircraft were destroyed or damaged.