Allied Bombers Active Over New Guinea

Northern Advocate, 29 June 1943, Page 3

Allied Bombers Active Over New Guinea

(Special) SYDNEY, This Day. General MacArthur’s bombers during the week-end concentrated the main weight of their attacks on the Markham Valley-Salamaua-Mubo area of New Guinea.

Sunday’s raids followed Saturday’s record attack on Lae by the largest force of Mitchell medium bombers ever employed in the South-west Pacific on any single mission other than the Bismarck Sea battle.

Strong formations of Mitchells struck at Salamaua and enemy-occupied villages in the Markham Valley-Ramu Rive: 1 sector. Heavy damage was done.

Earlier this month there was an exchange of raids by opposing air forces on targets in this area, which is inland from Madang. Bostons Support Australians

Boston attack planes were active on Sunday in support of Australian troops fighting in the Mubo sector of New Guinea. They strafed Japanese positions. The scale of land fighting in the area seems to have subsided temporarily, although opposing forces are reported to have exchanged mortar fire during the week-end.

The Japanese recently lost more than 200 men in fighting around Mubo. Jap. Cargo Ships Bombed A reconnaissance bomber over the Solomons Sea attacked a small Japanese cargo ship with destroyer escort southwest of Buka Passage, which separates Buka and Bougainville Islands. Damaging near misses were scored with two bombs, and the decks of both vessels were strafed from a low altitude.