Allied Aerial Deminance in South Pacific

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 205, 30 August 1943, Page 5

Allied Aerial Deminance in South Pacific

WIDESPREAD ATTACKS ON JAPANESE SHIPPING

Received Sunday, 11.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Aug. 28.

Widespread attacks by Allied bombers and fighters on Japanese shipping and barges in the South and Southwest Pacific areas are reported in to-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s Headquarters. The attacks emphasise Allied aerial dominance through the acceleration of supplies to General Mac Arthur’s Command.

Long-range fighters at dawn raided -John Albert harbour at Carove Isianu in the Vitu Group north of New Britain, destroying three small coastal vessels and five barges. At Jacquinet Bay (New Britain) one of our heavy recon na!23ance units destroyed three barges. A 2500-ton enemy cargo ship, north east of Mussau Island in the 'New Ireland Group was bombed and damages by one of our heavy units on reconnaissance. In the liuon Peninsula area (New Guinea) Allied planes bombed and strafed barge hideouts on the Mape River, bombed the building area at xTnschhafen, attacked barges west ol Cape Gerhards and bombed Jacobsen’s Plantation near Lae. Medium bombers scored three direct hits on the Gon river bridge at Bogadjim (New Guinea) on the main route to the south. In the Solomons area, escorted heavy bombors attacked Kahili aerodrome at Buin in the Bougainville Group. Fourteen of the 30 Intercepting enemy fighters were shot down in a running combat. Heavy bombers attacked Re kata Bay on Santa Isabel Island, causing explosions and fires. Liberators bombed three large Japan ese destroyers northwest of the enemy seaplane base at Rekata Bay on Thursday. A 6001 b. bomb hit one destroyer setting it on fire. Medium torpedo and divebombers bombed ana strafed enemy barge centres on the south coast of Kolombangara Islana. Fighters destroyed a small cargo ship and two barges near Ganongga Island. Off the coast of Choiscul Island, fighters strafed and destroyed three enemy patrol boats.