ALLIED AIR VICTORIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 25, 29 December 1942, Page 5

ALLIED AIR VICTORIES.

Spectacular new Allied air successes have been won in the South-West Pacific battle zone. The week-end score of Japanese aircraft destroyed was at least 31 and probably 3.4. Four more enemy ships have been wrecked at Rabaul. In furious air battles over New Guinea on Sunday 19 enemy aircraft were shot down. Lockheed Lightnings won a signal success when they dived on a formation of 27 Zeros and. 15 dive-bombers over Buna. Thirteen of the Zeros and two dive-bombers were destroyed. The remainder of the enemy force turned tail and fled. In use for the first time in the New Guinea battle zone, the Lightnings made a sensational combat debut. Only 12 of them were in the flight, but despite the heavy odds none of the new Allied fighters was lost. One received slight damage. Of twin fuselaged design, the Lightnings have great speed and fire power. Their pilots have been "spoiling" for a clash with the Japanese fighters for some time and the outcome of the Buna air battle is being hailed with delight. Allied anti-nircraft fire destroyed one Zero over Buna, while three more were shot down when they attacked Hudsons cmraged in transport work. Patrolling Kittyhnwks entered the fight and drove off the attackers. One Hudson, loaded witli A.I.F. wounded, was damaged and the pilot made a forced landing in the sea. Two of tho wounded were killed.

RABAUL POUNDED. Tho main Japanese southward air base at Rabaul is now being pounded from two flanks—by the air forces of both General MacArthur and Admiral Halsey. The latest raid, which followed the Christmas Day attack from Guadalcanal, was by heavy bombers of General MacArthur's command. Liberators and Fortresses, which reached • their targets in the face of intense ground opposition. A deluge of 5001 b bombs on the harbour, and shipping was followed by showers of incendiaries on Rabaul township.

The most important shipping victim was a 15,000-ton transport, last seen lying on its side in the centre of the harbour. Two other 8000-ton vessels were set ablaze in tho harbour, while a third 8000-tonner left burning in St. George's Channel was abandoned by her crew.

The attack was made in hazy weather and the damage is believed to have been even greater than claimed in General MacArthur's communique. These combined raids on Rabaul have been interpreted by the New York Times Washington correspondent as the "beginning of an Allied offensive which could result in an early amphibious attack on this Japanese base." Tho correspondent points out that several enomy supporting bases, including Lae, Salamaua, Munda, and Buin, must be cleaned up first, but emphasises that the twin aerial campaign against Rabaul from Australia and tho Solomons is a great forward move which will make it difficult for tho Japanese to maintain effective defences at Rabaul as well as at their satellite bases. Other widespread Allied air offensives in the South-West Pacific theatres have included attacks on tho new Japanese aerodrome at Cape Gloucester (New Britain) and the destruction of enemy warehouses at Madang and Finschhafen (New Guinea), where Japanese reinforcements landed recently. Systematic attacks aro also being kept up against the Japanese in Timor. Suppplies and road transport at Laivai, on the coast, about 70 miles from Dilli, have again been bombed and strafed.