MacArthur’s Bombers Raid Celebes’ Port

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1943, Page 3

MacArthur’s Bombers Raid Celebes’ Port

(Rec. 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Striking far into Japanese-held territory, General MacArthur’s heavy bombers have made a heavy daylight attack on the important nickel mining centre at Pomeiaa, in the Celebes, when 27 tons of bombs were discharged in a congested target area. Fires were started in a loading plant and extensive damage was caused to warehouses and mills. This is the first occasion on which Pomeiaa has been raided. An enemy freighter caught in the harbour was bombed and damaged and numerous small surface craft were strafed and destroyed. All our planes returned, one of them fighting oft' 12 Zeros, shooting down two and probably destroying three others.

Allied air forces in south and southwest Pacific areas have been very active during the past 48 hours in the Solomons. A 500 ton cargo-vessel was left sinking west of Buka. Bougainville Island after it had been attacked by our reconnaissance aircraft. Three Japanese planes made an ineffectual pre-dawn raid on Munda airfield, New Georgia, now in use by Allied air forces. An enemy bomber also raided Darwin area at night causing minor damage but no casualties. Destroy 300 Planes More than 300 Japanese aircraft have been destroyed in the Wcwak area, nortneast New Guinea, during the past. week. Ihe Allied air force on Friday and Saturday struck new and heavy blows against continued enemy aircraft concentrations at Wcwak. where the Japanese suite red their greatest, aerial disaster of the South Pacific war, when 21a planes were destroyed there last Tuesday and Wednesday. In the newest raid, made on Saturday, 34 enemy aircraft wore left burning on the ground, while at least: 33 were shot, down in combat.

On Friday, five enemy planes were destroyed on the ground, and at least 19 were shot down. The Japanese have persisted in their staggeringly costly eftorts to reinforce their plane strength on four aerodromes around Wewak. “This effort to restore his air strength in New Guinea is being nullified by our continuous assault on his bases," says General MaeAnhur's latest communique, “and the Wewak area has again become' the scene of tierce combat."

Reporting Saturday’s raid, the communique says: “Our medium bombers, with lighter escort, struck enemy airfields at Dagua during the morning, completing the"destruction of aircraft previously rendered unserviceable, and destroying possible replacements. Thirty-four of these aircraft were left, burning on the ground. Anti-aircraft positions were extensively strafed, and many silenced. Off shore, four barges and a power-launch were strafed and destroyed. A large force of enemy fighters was met in the air near the area, when 33 were reported shot down and five others probably destroyed. Three of our fighters are missing and a number sustained minor damage.” Liberators and Mitchells, escorted by Lightnings, have kept up attacks against Wewak. On Friday. 60 tons of high-ex-plosives were dropped on runways and dispersal areas at Boram airfield. When more than 30 Zeros tried to drive off our raiders, 19 were shot down, six more probably destroyed, and three others dam■ aged. Allied losses were two planes. The Japanese landed at Wewak last December. Wewak now ranks third to Truk and Rabaul among enemy bases in the Central and South Pacific.