37 Jap. Planes Downed

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1943, Page 3

37 Jap. Planes Downed

(E.0.W.) RUGBY, April 8 The notable success of American lighter pilots who shot down 37 Japanese planes is reported in a United States Navy communique, which Hates: “In the South Pacific on Tuesday morning forces of Dauntless and Avenger dive-bombers, escorted by Wildcat fighters, attacked Japanese Installations at Vila, in the Central Solomons. “Hits were scored on the target area ».nd large fires were started. All United States planes returned. “In the early evening, three Japanese planes bombed Guadalcanar Island. There were no casualties to personnel and only slight damage is reported. “On Tuesday night, Catalina patrol bombers attacked Vila. At the same lime Flying Fortresses attacked enemy installations at Kahila, in Shortland Island area, also enemy fhipping between Choisuel and Santa Isabel Islands.

“Early cn Wednesday morning a force of Dauntless and Avenger divebombers. escorted by fighters, attacked Vila. Hits were scored on ?nemy anti-aircraft positions and the camp area. A large fire was started. In the early afternoon a force of Avengers and Dauntlesses. escorted by fighters, attacked Rekata Bay, Santa Island. A Japanese four-engined flying-boat was destroyed. All United States planes returned.

“Fifty enemy bombers, escorted by i 8 Zeros, attacked American shipping in the vicinity of Guadalcanar. American fighters shot down 21 Zeros, five dive-bombers and 10 other enemy planes of unreported type. Another enemy plane was later observed crashing. Seven American planes are missing but one pilot is safe.” One Of The Strongest Ever A Japanese force of 50 bombers and 48 Zeros was one of the strongest ever sent against American positions in the Solomons, says the Washington correspondent of the United Press. A communique announcing the raid did not disclose whether any American shipping was damaged, but the decisive victory gained by the American Air Force is regarded as indicating that the enemy has failed to gain any notable success against surface ships. The big aerial battle was the climax to two days’ exceptional activity by both sides. “This large-scale Japanese raid on Guadalcanar shipping is apparently an indication of the enemy’s dogged determination to continue attempts to harass and punish the American forces in the Pacific theatres regardless of cost," comments the “New York Times” Washington correspondent. “Despite loss of many hundreds ol planes and tremendous losses in shipping and troops in both Admiral Halsey’s and General MacArthur’s territories, the Japanese are continually reinforcing their air strength and boring in for attempted blows, which thus far have ended disastrously. After the fall of Guadalcanar the Japanese seemed deficient in bomber strength, but the latest raid indicates that this army has also been reinforced. The Secretary for War (Mr Stimson) and the Navy Secretary (Mr Knox) recently gave a warning of growing Japanese strength in the Pacific, but the result of this raid shows that the American forces have also been strengthened.” General MacArthur’s Communique General MacArthur's communique reads: Dutch New Guinea., Timika: One of our medium units bombed the airfield. Ivaukenau: One of our reconnaissance bombers sighted and attacked a group of enemy supply barges, with patrol boat escort, moving east off tile coast. Direct bomb hits’ were scored, and the entire llotilla was strafed for an hour. Fires were started on an armed escort vessel, and on three of the barges. The remainder were severely damaged. A roe islands: One of our medium units strafed a number of enemy coastal vessels in the Arafura Sea. Tanimbar Island Saumlaki: One of our medium units bombed and strafed the jetty area. New Ireland Kaviong: One of our heavy units bombed New Panapai aerodrome. New Britain Übili area: One of our heavy units bombed and strafed, enemy installations at Ulamona. New Guinea Finschlmfen: One of our heavy units, bombed and strafed the area. Concentration of Barges A single U.A.A.F. Hudson made on Thursday a bombing and strafing attack on a group of 18 Japanese supply-barges off ICaukenau on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea. The presence of these barges is not regarded as indicative of tiny fresh move by the enemy. Kaukenau is one of the most easterly points of enemy expansion on the southern coast of Dutch New Guinea but the Japanese are believed to have constructed an airstrip still closer to the Allied base of Merauke.