FIERCE AIR BATTLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 236, 3 September 1943, Page 5

FIERCE AIR BATTLE

JAPS. HEAVILY DEFEATED. (Rec. 12.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 3 Allied' airmem scored another great victory in the Solomons on Wednesday when they shot down 36 out of a force of 60 Japanese fighters in a bitter running battle over the sea. Only six Allied planes were lost.

v This latest success, which demonstrates the marked Allied air superiority over the Japanese in the South Pacific, is reported in yesterday's communique from General MacArthur's Headquarters: The battle developed when swarms of Japanese fighters- vainly attempted to prevent an attack on Kahili aerodrome, on the southern tip of Bougainville Island, by Liberator bombers with a strong fighter escort. As the enemy swept in to intercept the bombers, Allied fighters dived among them and a fierce battle raged. The bombers pressed home the attack and scored heavily along the runway, but poor visibility prevented an assessment of the damage. Japanese fighters continued the battle until the homeward-bound raiders were over Canongga Island, south of Vella Lavella. The battered remnants of the enemy then broke off the engagement. The Allies in the Solomons are shooting down five Japanese planes for every one they lose. The total of enemy planes claimed as destroyed since the American landing in the Solomons in August last year is now 1562.

Another Allied raid in the Solomons was on Rekata Bay, Santa Ysabel Island, where heavy units pounded installations without opposition. A fighter destroyed a Japanese reconnaissance plane off the south coast of Santa Ysabel. In a coastal sweep at Yella Lavella Island our fighters destroyed a small cargo vessel and two barges near Paraso. Allied light naval craft on night patrol sank a loaded barge and damaged two others in Vella Gulf. General MacArthur's bombers attacked widespread enemy objectives in the South-West Pacific. Heavy units on reconnaissance bombed the oil port of Boela and the villages of Kokas and Sorong, on Ceram Island. The results have not been disclosed. Off New Ireland, a medium unit bombed a Japanese destroyer and an 8000-ton cargo ship with unobserved results. In a coastal sweep around the western end of New Britain, medium bombers destroyed or damaged 10 barges and strafed an enemy occupied village south of Dorf Point. A coastal sweep was made in the Huon Peninsula area. Twelve _ enemy barges have been destroyed during the week off the coast of : the peninsula by light naval craft. Aircraft attacked barges at Yitu Island,' north of New Britain. NEAR END AT SALAMAUA. A strong Japanese position on Scout Ridge, the southern 'bastion of Francisco Valley at Salamaua's "back door," has been encircled by American troops operating from Roosevelt Ridge. The Japanese established strong defensive positions on the top of a steep escarpment and have delayed the American advance for a considerable period. Australian troops made'small but important gains against the Japanese-who retreated to Francisco River after the Allied victories at Kpmiatum and Tambu.' On the south 6ide of the river, where a small enemy force has been resisting stubbornly, the Australians have made territorial, gams and captured a pillbox. The Japanese on the north side of the river are making small counter-attacks in an attempt to preserve their hard-pressed positions. The Japanese grip on Salamaua > is rapidly deteriorating. The new_ positions won by the Americans following the virtual encirclement of : the Japanese strong-point on Scout Ridge overlook the Salamaua airstrip and the enemy's main rear defence positions. The end may not be far away. JAPS LEAVE SANTA YSABEL? According to a London message there are signs that the Japanese have pulled out of Santa Ysabel Island. 'When Allied bombers were over the area yesterday, there was a complete absence of any opposition. If the assumption is correct, the Japanese have retreated another step uorthward. j