Crippling Strike On Central Philippines

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 220, 16 September 1944, Page 5

Crippling Strike On Central Philippines

OVER 500 ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED Received Friday, 8.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 14. Carrier aircraft swept over the Central Philippines and inflicted crip, pling damage on the enemy’s air force, shipping and ground installations during the three-day strike on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, says a Pacific fleet communique. More complete information shows that the following damage was done to the enemy on Panay, Cebu, Ngros and Leyte Islands: A total of 156 aircraft was shot down in combat and 277 destroyed on the ground. This is a revision of the number of planes previously announced as having been lost by the enemy in the Central Philippines. At sundown on Wednesday 501 enemy aircraft had been destroyed in the Philippines by our carrier aircraft, Including the 68 destroyed last Friday. Two large cargo vessels, one medium transport, two destroyer escorts and 35 small ships were sunk, five cargo ships, one medium oiler, 36 small ships, two motor-torpedoboats and many sampans were damaged. These ship losses are in addition to those previously reported. Our planes bombed and strafed several airfields and set fire to oil storage facilities, ammunition dumps, warehouses, barracks and buildings. Enemy air opposition on the first day was considerable and was reinforced during the first night, so that its strength on the second day was also formidable. Enemy planes intercepted our aircraft, but did not attempt to attack our surface ships. Our losses In planes and flight personnel were relatively light. Carrier aircraft bombed enemy positions on Angaur, Peleliu and Ngesebus Islands, in the Palau Group, on Tuesday, damaging coastal gun positions, warehouses and lighthouses at Angaur. 'Navy search planes damaged a large sampan and two large troop-laden landing-craft near Iwo Jima. Marcus Island, Nauru, Wotje and Mill were also attacked.