RAIDERS VISIT DARWIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 30 June 1943, Page 5

RAIDERS VISIT DARWIN

TWO SHOT DOWN BY SPITFIRES JAP ISLAND POSITIONS BOMBED Sydney, June 29. Nine Japanese twin - engined bombers, escorted by nine Zeros, attempted to raid the Darwin area about mid-day on Monday. Spitfires shot down two enemy fighters. Two other fighters and two bombers are claimed as probably destroyed. One Spitfire is missing. Japanese planes dropped their bombloads from 26,000 feet and damage is officially described as light. There were no casualties. This was Darwin’s 56th raid. Last week Spitfires destroyed or damaged 24 Japanese planes over the Darwin area. Flying through extremely bad weather across the Banda Sea, Liberators on Monday struck at Laha airfield on Amboina Island, 580 miles north of Darwin and the nearby island of Boeroe. Bad weather prevented observation of results. The only other air activities reported by General MacArthur’s latest communique were attacks by single heavy bombers on reconnaissance on airfields at Cape Gloucester and Rabaul, New Britain. Rapopo aerodrome was the target at Rabaul. MOVE EXPECTED IN NEW GUINEA Commenting on the recent lack of large-scale Japanese offensive air activity in the New Guinea sector, one war cSrrespondent suggests that improved weather conditions may see the resumption of the enemy’s 100-plane raids. He also reports that the Japanese have amassed considerable troop strength in New Guinea —perhaps greater than at any previous stage of the war. The enemy’s bases from Wewak to Salamaua have been strengthened and strong patrols have pushed inland. At one point in the Bismarck range country they have penetrated to a depth of more than 50 miles from the coast. This is around the headwaters of the Ramu and Markham rivers. The Allies hold territory about 20 miles to the south-west.—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.