AIR ATTACKS INTENSIFIED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 21, 22 December 1944, Page 5

AIR ATTACKS INTENSIFIED

BLOWS IN SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC. CT{ N Z A.F Official News Service.) SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC, Dec. 19. The Allies have intensified their attacks op important Japanese bases in the Solomons-Bismarcks area, and strong forces of fighters and medium .bombers have in the past few days given the enemy little respite. Welldefended Ivavieng at the northern tip of New Ireland, and Rabaul (New Britain) have been the principal targets in these raids, and both have been subjected to a heavy battering. Formations of R.N.Z.A.F. and United States Corsairs—with American medium bombers—took part in a strike against Rabaul, when 10001 b bombs were dropped on the enemy’s supply areas. While the fighters concentrated on targets round Rabaul, formations of Mitchells bombarded Matupi Island. Though the results were sometimes difficult to observe because of the nature of the country, all bombs were seen to fall in the target areas. Ivavieng was also raided by B.N.Z.A.F. Corsairs, which flow over the two enemy airfields there and plantations south of the town, dropping 5001 b bombs. Several huts were either destroyed or damaged and pilots came down low over populated areas in strafing attacks. Flak of medium intensity was encountered in some areas but the Japanese fire -was not very accurate. However, a burst of ~0 mm fire struck one Corsair piloted by Pilot-Officer R. B. Johnston, Dunedin, and the aircraft arrived hack at base with a large hole in its fuselage.