U.S. MARIANAS RAID

Grey River Argus, 28 February 1944, Page 5

U.S. MARIANAS RAID

135 Jap Planes Lost (Rec. 7.40) WASHINGTON, Feb. 25. The United States task force which struck at the Marianas last Tuesday destroyed 135 Japanese aeroplanes, sank two ships, and damaged nine others. American losses were .only six aeroplanes. A Pacific Fleet communique states: “Rear-Admiral Mitscher’s task force was detected approaching the Tinian and Saipan Islands on the afternoon of February 21. Enemy land-based torpedo aeroplanes and bombers carried out attacks against our ships continuously; during the night and morning of February 22. Our aeroplanes shot down fourteen and our ack-ack shot down five enemy aeroplanes. Despite persistent, continuing attacks our carriers launched aeroplanes according to schedule. Two attacks were carried out in force against the principal targets. A smaller raid was made against Gaum. Twentynine enemy aeroplanes were shot down over the targets and an additional eighty-seven aeroplanes were wrecked on the ground. A total of 135 enemy aircraft were destroyed. A few enemy! ships wre found. One cargo ship was sunk, another was severely damaged and. apparently beached, and another was set on fire. One patrol craft was blown up and seven other small ships were damaged. Small boats in the harbour areas were strafed. Runways, seaplane' aprons, other aerodrome facilities, fuel dumps and buildings were heavily strafed. Our losses were six aeroplanes. None of our ships was sunk or damaged. “On Wednesday Army ’ Liberators bombed the wharves and .radio facilities in the cantonment area at Kussie in the Carolines. Navy search Liberators bombed the Kussie dock areas, sinking one ship and. damaging another. They l , also bombed an ammunition dump, which exploded. “Mitchells, Warhawks, and Venturas bombed and strafed ground installations on four enemy-held atolls in the western Marshalls. Several of our aeroplanes were damaged, but all returned to base.”

Battle at Guam U.S. NAVAL ATTACK REPORTED. (Rec. 9.50.) LONDON, Feb. 26. Accordin" to the Berlin radio which quotes information from Tokio, there is a fierce battle raging between Japanese on the island of Guam, and an enemy naval formation which is attacking the island. Guam is situated at the southern end of the Mariana group. z