Jap. Seaplane Tender Stink Sn Solomons

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1943, Page 4

Jap. Seaplane Tender Stink Sn Solomons

(Special) SYDNEY, This Day. Bombs and torpedoes from United States aircraft have sunk a 9000-ton Japanese seaplane tender in the Northern Solomons. One of four escorting destroyers was damaged and five protecting enemy fighters were shot down. Allied losses were three planes.

General MacArthur’s communique says: “An enemy convoy was trying to run supplies and equipment to Buin, Eougainviiie Island, Liberators Avengers and Dauntless dive-bombers attacked the ships at dusk last Thursday. The tender sunk was of the Nisshi class, which are 570 ft long and carry about 14 aircraft. These seaplanes are serviced and repaired by tender, being launched over the side and recovered by cranes. Tokio radio admits the loss of a destroyer and claims that Japanese bombers sank a large Allied destroyei in Rendova harbour, Central Solomons. Rendova is the American base for the offensive against Munda, important enemy airfield on New Georgia. Tokio radio says 90 Allied planes attacked Japanese destroyers which were reinforcing Solomons bases undei air cover. No further official reports have been made of the ground situation at Munda, but General MacArthur’s weekend communiques report heavy air attacks on enemy positions “in direct support of our ground troops.” Mac Arthur’s Communique General MacArthur's communiques report the following week-end operations in the Solomons on July 24: — ‘‘Bougainvlle: At dusk on July 22 an enemy seaplane tender of the Nisshi class, escorted by four destroyers, was sighted off the coast attempting to run supplies and equipment into Buin. Our heavy torpedo and dive-bombers, with strong fighter escort, attacked and sank the 9000ton tender and damaged one of the destroyers. Enemy fighters in force, attempting to intervene, were repulsed with the loss of five Zeros. Three of our fighters are missing. “New Georgia: Our dive-bombers attacked enemy gun positions in support of ground troops near Munda. “Santa Ysabel: Our medium units and dive-bombers, with lighter cover, executed a surprise attack on enemy installations at Rekata Bav, starting fires. "Vella Gulf: Our light surface units intercepted four enemy barges attempting to run supplies into Kolornbangarn, setting two oh fire. “July 25.—New Georgia: In direct support of ground troops, our torpedo and dive-bombers, escorted by fighters, dropped 80 tons of high explosives in two heavy attacks on enemy positions at Bairoko and Bibilo Hill, one mile northeast of Munda. One of our aircraft was lost, but the crew is believed to have been rescued. Two enemy planes ineffectively raided Enogai Inlet.”