Heavy Rabaul A.A. Fire

Northern Advocate, 22 April 1944, Page 6

Heavy Rabaul A.A. Fire

(Sneciial) SYDNEY, This Day Liberators met Japanese fighter opposition in two Pacific raids reported by General MacAvthur’s communique to-day. but returned to their bases without loss. Two of 11 enemy interceptors were shot down over Woleai, in the Carolines. Liberators returning from raiding Manokwari, Dutch New Guinea, fought off three Japanese fighters over Arafura Sea. In Tuesday’s raid on Woleai. situated mid-way between Truk and Palau, Allied aircraft destroyed a fighter taking off, two bombers on the ground and a float plane on the harbour. Three other float planes were nrobably destroyed. For the first time since April 2. planes from General MacArthuv’s command met fighter opposition over the Carolines, 11 Zeros attempting interception. Two were shot down and the remainder driven off. In a follow-up attack on Wednesday, there was no air interception. Solomonsbased bombers are becoming steadily more active over this sector of the Carolines. The Japanese garrison at Rabaul, New Britain, on Tuesday, ended conjectures about their ability to offer strong ground opposition to raiding planes. Their antiaircraft fire was intense. Three Allied aircraft were lost. Allied offensive sweeps along the New Guinea coast on Tuesday and Wednesday covered many targets. A small tanker, a 500-ton freighter and five laden barges were destroyed. Another small freighter and three barges were damaged.