BRITISH NAVAL BLOW

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 8

BRITISH NAVAL BLOW

SUPPORT FOR OKINAWA. JAP AIRFIELDS STRUCK. CN.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.*) (Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.) (1.30 p.m.) PACIFIC FLEET, May 4. Battleships and cruisers of the British task force today bombarded all three airfields on the island of Miyako after carrierborne aircraft’ had made two strikes earlier in the day.

From tlie bridge of a- cruiser 1 watched shells from the first British force to sight Japanese islands in this war land squarely on the Hirarai, Nobara and Sukama airfields, smothering them with black and grey sfnoke from which every now and then came the glare of flames. The bombardment was made from a distance of about five to seven miles and the low, gently rolling island of Miyako was clearly visible in the brilliant sunshine. With the naked eye we eoukl see the redcoloured airstrips and with the glasses we easily detected, the barracks, warehouses, factories and other buildings. These we bombarded for the best part of an hour from noon without retaliation either from the air or by gunfire.

The operation was in continuation of the role given the fleet in support of the American seizure of Okinawa and opened with two bomber strikes. The bombers were fired on by batteries and it was one of our objects to destroy these with our guns. Deports so far available indicate that our attack had excellent results. In the middle of the morning some of the battleships and cruisers, with a destroyer screen, closed up to the island while the carriers and their escorts stood oft to provide us with air cover during the bombardment. Although two aircraft were reported to he flying off the fields while under our gunfire, they did not attack us.