Liberators Raid Sourabaya: Oil Refinery Smashed

Northern Advocate, 24 July 1943, Page 3

Liberators Raid Sourabaya: Oil Refinery Smashed

(Special.) SYDNEY. This Day. Sourabaya, in north-east Java, the main Japanese base in the Netherlands East Indies, was heavily attacked by American Liberators operating from North Australia early on Thursday morning. The raid, which resulted in considerable damage to a large oil refinery, involved a flight cf nearly 2400 miles—one of the longest bombing missions of the war. All the Liberators returned safely. Enemy Surprised

The Japanese were apparently taken by surprise, for Sourabaya dock area was brightly lighted when the first formation of Liberators struck. Almost immediately, an intense antiaircraft barrage was thrown up, but this diminished in intensity as the raid progressed. Describing the damage, General MacArthur’s communique says: “Direct hits with 5001 b. bombs and incendiaries were scored on an oil refinery, resulting in five large fires. The dock and nearby warehouses and railway installations were heavily hit with high explosives and incendiaries. “Raging fires were reported by combat crews as, being visible for 140 miles.”

Our bombers hammered an extensive target area for almost an hour to make the first Allied air attack on Sourabaya, which lies 1000 miles from the nearest portion of the Australian mainland. The Japanese made no attempt at fighter interception. The oil refinery, which was the principal objective of the raid, was dismantled by the Dutch before the Japanese took Sourabaya. However, the enemy had evidently succeeded in putting it back into commission. As a result of our air attack, it is thought the refinery will be out of commission again for some time. Fight Over Celebes Another Liberator, on lons-range reconnaissance over Celebes on Thursday, was intercepted by four Zero?. After one enemy fighter had been shot down and two others damaged the fourth made off and the Liberator completed its mission. Both in Xe w Guinea and the Solomojts Allied aircraft on Thursday conducted intensive offensive operations. Salamaua Trail Bombed Liberators and Mitchells in force raided Japanese positions around Tvomiatum, New Guinea, key enemy position on the trail to Salamaua, dropping Ibi tons of bombs. Several skirmishes occurred between opposing' ground troops near A'amiing. in this area, the enemy .suffering severe casualties. On the coast, Allied forward elements are in contact with the Japanese at Tambu Bay. about five miles south-east of. Salamaua. . Tamlnt Bay guard* the Japanese seaward and southerly flank. It is only two miles from Mount Tambu, where the Australians are .holding positions captured from the enemy last Friday.