OVER RABAUL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 38, 13 January 1944, Page 5

OVER RABAUL

ALLIED AIR VICTORY ENEMY LOSES 16 PLANES (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Jan. 12. An air battle over Rabaul (New Britain) has cost the Japanese 16 fighters. Four Allied planes were lost. Maintaining their persistent aerial sweeps over this key enemy base, our heavy torpedo and dive-bombers based on the Solomons, with fighter escort, were intercepted by 40 Zeros. In spite of the interception, they carried out their attacks on the Vunakanau and Toberc aerodromes.The runways were damaged, antiaircraft ,positions hit, and parked planes destroyed. Installations at the Rabaul aerodromes have recently been under sustained attacks by planes of both the South-West and South Pacific Commands. To-day's communique reports another air clash over Wewak (North-East New Guinea), where Allied fighter patrols encountered a force of 18 Zeros. They shot down one and probably dainaged another. Damage to Japanese shipping reported in the communique includes a destroyer and a 1500-ton merchantman set on fire. The destroyer was an escort vessel with an enemy sixship convoy, and was attacked by a United States naval Catahna 40 miles south-west of Dyaul Island (New Ireland) on Sunday night. A direct hit amidships left the destroyer burning with its anti-aircraft gun,s silent. A naval Catalina also registered a hit on a merchantman which was one of two vessels attacked at Hansa Bay (North-En st New Guinea) on Sunday night. The ship was left burning and trailing a large oil slick. The heaviest air attack was on the Japanese barge and supply ba,se of Bogad jim, on" the north coaft of New Guinea. In two days 76 tons of bombs were dropped. Australian troops driving along the North New Guinea coast are now within eight miles of Sio. Allied artillery is shelling Japanese installations at, Gneisenau Point, about four miles from Sio. At Cape Gloucester (Western New Britain) where the American marines are still thrusting forward in the Borgen Bay area, two strong Japanese counterattacks were repulsed on Monday.