SEAPLANE BASE BOMBED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 May 1943, Page 5

SEAPLANE BASE BOMBED

FIRES STARTED AT AMBOINA ISLAND ALLIED BOMBERS ON PATROL Sydney, This Day. The Japanese seaplane base at Halong Amboina, 580 miles north of Darwin, has been heavily attacked by Liberator bombers. Explosions and fires were caused among hangars and barracks. Fifteen Zeros made an un- j sussessful attempt at interception. Two were probably destroyed and a third was damaged. All our bombers returned salely. The raid is reported in General MacArthur s communique today. Medium bombers on Thursday attacked Koepang, Timor, 500 miles northwest of Darwin, starting numerous fires in the town area. The only other attacks recorded in to-day's communique were made by single aircraft on armed reconnaissance. A Japanese lugger was left sinking after being attacked by a medium bomber off Jamdena Island in the Tenimber group, just 300 miles north of Darwin. Fires were started in an enemy occupied village of Koleseer in the Kei Islands, 500 miles north-east of Darwin. A heavy bomber making a reconnaissance sweep along the north New Guinea coast bombed the Medang, Saidor and Finshhafen areas. About 120 miles separated these three centres of Japanese activity. UNCEASING ALLIED VIGIL Allied reconnaissance planes are maintaining an unceasing vigil over Japanese occupied areas in the Southi West Pacific. A report says activity continues at all centres where enemy troops are known to be located. However, since the recent convoy which headed for Palau Island after being attacked last Saturday by a Liberator in the Bismarck Sea, no large-scale enemy shipping movements have been sighted. For the moment the Japanese appear to prefer attempts at running the Afflfed bombing gauntlet with single ships or ships in pairs. Because of the vasl areas to be watched it is possible that fresh supplies and troops have been landed at some enemy bases. Americanmanned Liberators which attacked the Japanese seaplane base of Amboina on Thursday report seeing a number of merchant vessels and four warships in the harbour. Amboina ranked second to Surabaya as the most important naval base in the Netherlands East Indies.—P.A. and P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.