LONG FLIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 June 1943, Page 5

LONG FLIGHT

RAID ON CELEBES LIBERATORS AT JAP BASE FIRES VISIBLE 70 MILES AWAY Sydney, June 24. A Japanese cruiser and cargo vessel were hit when a strong formation of American-manned Liberator bombers made a round trip of 2000 on Wednesday to attack Macassar, an important enemy base in the Celebes. Five other ships were seen in the harbour. It is officially claimed that this is the second longest distance ever flown by raiding land-based bombers in any war theatre. The longest raid was made by American planes based on Hawaii, which raided Japanese-held Wake Island—involving a flight of 2400 miles.

Reporting the raid on Macassar, General MacArthur’s communique to-day says: “Our heavy bombers at midday struck the major enemy base of Macassar, dropping over 38 tons of incendiaries and high explosives, ranging up to 20001bs each on the town, docks and shipping in the harbour, causing heavy damage. Numerous hits on Juliana and Wilhelmina wharves and in the town itself started fires visible 70 miles away. “Direct hits with heavy bombs were scored on an enemy cruiser moored to a dock and cn a cargo vessel in the harbour. A single enemy fighter was intercepted and destroyed. Heavy an-ti-aircraft fire was encountered from a ship and the shore. One of our planes failed to return.” BRILLIANT ALLIED EXPLOIT It is stated that a lone intercepting Zero crashed into the wing of a Liberator, causing the big bomber to go into a spin. The Zero had been hit by the Liberator’s guns. The raid on Macassar is regarded as one of the most brilliant exploits of the Pacific air war. It was the first time General MacArthur’s bombers had been over this objective, which before the war was the fourth city of the Netherlands East Indies and an important seaplane base. The flight was equivalent to a raid on Naples from England. On April 25 our bombers dropped 21 tons of bombs on Kendari, on the opposite side of the Celebes. Kendari has been raided on several occasions. FIERCE FIGHTING IN NEW GUINEA Fierce ground fighting continuesaround Mubo—an advance post for the Japanese force at Salamaua, northern New Guinea. At least 64 enemy troops were killed or wounded i n a further vain attempt to storm Australian positions on the Lababia ridge, 2000 yards east of Mubo. A new thrust was made about midday on Wednesday. Australian casualties are reported to be only three wounded. Recent attacks against Lababia Ridge have cost the Japanese about 200 killed and wounded. The enemy have again been driven back, but forward patrods are reported to be still engaged. There were no reports to-day of air action in support of either Allied or Japanese troops. The fact that the enemy has been able to take aggressive action in this area suggests that despite the Allied air blockade of Lae and Salamaua and constant heavy attacks on these centres, the Japanese may be getting supplies through to their forces around Mubo. General MacArthur’s communiques constantly refer to air attacks on enemy barges and luggers which are evidently being used to sneak supplies down the coast by night. The Japanese are also believed to have used submarines to bring in sorelyneeded supplies—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.