N.Z. Warhawks In One Of Best Raids Yet

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1944, Page 5

N.Z. Warhawks In One Of Best Raids Yet

(Official N.Z.E.F, War Correspondent.)

SOUTH PACIFIC BASE. Mar. 13.

Tu a smashing attack on a New Britain •supply area at V'unapope. 22 New Zealand Warhawks wreaked considerable damage. Great columns of heavy smoko spread river the targets as the New Zealanders departed from one of their best efforts yet in the Pacific, Eight enemy planes were sighted but no Interception was attempted. A few minutes later United Stales Army, Aira.•obras dived in through tin* smoke with more bombs and reported six fires burning from the previous raid. Nineteen Liberators, covered by Lightnings, plastered the Rabaul area with 7G tons of bombs, destroying eight buildings and scoring a direct frit on a seaplane base, setting fuel dumps on fire and starting several other large fires. A large barge and two small schooners were sunk, also the pier damaged at Koravia Bay, and two barges west of Raluana Point were damaged in a sweep by six Avengers, On Bougainville the Americans are hitting back heavily at the Japs around the perimeter and using tanks, mortars, grenades, machine-guns, rifles, and finally bayonets. In a six-hour attack they drove the Japs out of the perimeter and regained all tiie lost positions. Under heavy punishment from American artillery, Japanese artillery fire has been increasingly weak since the first day of their attack. A major Japanese attack launched on the northern sector of the perimeter was repulsed. Total casualties since the fighting flared up on Bougainville are: American, ;;9 killed. 047 wounded; Japanese, 112 known killed.