Day and Night Attacks On Jan Dromes

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 223, 20 September 1943, Page 5

Day and Night Attacks On Jan Dromes

Received Sunday, 9.40 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 19.

The Allied Air Forces in the Central Solomons are maintaining day ana night attacks on Japanese aerodromes in the Buin-Faisi area at the south ena of Bougainville Island. In an attempt to interfere with the offensive, the Japanese are throwing in large formations of fighters, thirty of whom have been shot down by Allied planes in two days of air operations in the area for the loss of six Allied aircraft. At least another eight Japanese planes have been destroyed on the ground. General MacArthur’s communique reports that strong forces of Allien bombers in all categories on Thursday made day and night raids on enemy aerodromes at Ballale, Kahili and Kara. Runways, dispersal areas, repair ana supply depots were heavily bombed and strafc.d and explosions and fires were! caused all over the target areas. Two grounded aircraft were destroyed ana man/ others probably hit. Nearly 100 Jap. nsse fighters challenged the raiders and sixteen were shot down for the loss of 1 bree Allied planes.

G .ving the enemy no respite, our bor bers with fighter escort again her 7ily pounded aerodromes in the Bu.n-Faisi area on Friday. Direct hits were seen to destroy motor transport and at least six grounded aircraft. 01 fifty fighters which attempted interception, Allied fighters shot down 14 for the loss of three.

A force of between 40 and 60 Japanese planes cn Thursday night bom ben Allied positions at Munda and Barakoma and on Vella Lavella Island,

causing minor damage and casualties. Further minor damage was clone in three enemy raids on Munda on Friday night. Antiaircraft fire shot down one raider. Allied large naval craft destroyed five enemy barges off the north coast of Vella Lavella.

POWERFUL ATTACKS BY AIR FORCES

Successful attacks by Allied bombers and longrange fighters on Japanese shipping in New Ireland and New Britain Islands in the Southwest Pacific, are reported in communiques from General MacArthur’s Headquarters. Reconnaissance aircraft in the New Ireland area attacked three small enemy cargo ships near Cape St. George, leaving one on fire and sinking ana damaging another. Near Kavicng, a 1000-ton freighter was left listing and another of 1000 tons was damaged. Longrange fighters swooped on enemy shipping in Kimba Bay (New Britain), setting fire to four small cargo vessels and damaging three others.

In New Guinea, the Japanese forwara base at Alexishafen was attacked by heavy bombers. A total of 61 tons oi bombs was dropped on supply dumps and bivouas areas, causing heavy damage and numerous fires.

A night raid by Allied medium bombers on the seaplane base at Taberfane in the Aroe Islands south of Dutch New Guinea caused fires and explosions. Longrange fighters followed at dawn with a low-level strafing attack, destroying a floatplane, antiaircraft positions and loaded barges. Two Japanese bombers raided Onslow, 350 miles north of Perth, on Wednesday night. They dropped eight high explosive and eight firebombs about four miles from the town after they haa flown around for half an hour seeking

their objective. There was no damage and no casualties. The most recent previous raid on Western Australia was on Broome on August 27. On May 24, Japanese planes made a night raid on Exmouth Gulf opposite Onslow. This area is the most southerly point in Australia yet bombed by the enemy.