AND 89 PLANES

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1944, Page 5

AND 89 PLANES

U.S. Carrier Air Raid ON ISLANDS NORTH OF FORMOSA. SYDNEY, October 11. A Pacific Fleet communique says: “Carrier-based aircraft in great force, attacked Ryukyu Islands, north of Formosa, in the first strike into islands commanding sea approaches between Foochow and Shanghai and destroyed 12 Japanese ships, probably sank 14, and damaged 12 others. Eighty-nine Japanese ’planes were destroyed. . All naval and merchant ships found were attacked and short installations severely damaged. Preliminary reports indicate the following results: One destroyer, one mine-sweeper, one submarine tender, two medium, two small and five coastal cargo ships sunk. Two medium, four Small and seven coastal cargo ships and one medium tanker, probably sunk. Three medium and six small cargo ships, one destroyer ,and two small oil tankers damaged. In addition to the foregoing, over 20 luggers and other small craft were sunk or damaged. A complete surprise was achieved. Over 75 enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and 14 enemy aircraft were shot down. Buildings and defence installations on the islands were severely bombed and strafed and many left burning. Our surface ships were undamaged. Our ’plane losses were light. The attacking carrier task forces were a great part of Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet, under the immediate command of ViceAdmiral Mitscher.

THE JAPANESE ACCOUNT. 26 RAIDERS DOWNED. (Rec 12.0.) NEW YORK, Oct. 11. Tokio official radio announced that four hundred United States carrierbased ’planes attacked Ryukyu Islands in four waves from 7 a.m. to mid-afternoon on Monday. The attack ranged from Amami Ishima, 200 miles south of Japan, to Miyaki Island, 500 miles further south, and included Okinawa Island. The r.adio claimed more than 26 ’planes were shot down, and that only slight damage was done. ANOTHER PALAU ISLAND OCCUPIED. (Rec. 9.5.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 11. A Pacific Fleet communique says: Garakayo Island in the southern Palau Group, was occupied by elements of the 81st. Division on October 8, and was completely secured by Monday last. Several hillsides and ravine caves on Peleliu Island have been cleared of the enemy troops, and a small hill was occupied .as the Marines made some progress in reducing the last stubborn pocket of enemy resistance. Demolition teams of the 81st. Division continued mopping up operations on Angaur Island. Corsairs strafed four small boats and nine barges in a sweep over east and north-west coasts of Babelthuap island.