GASMATA HEAVILY BOMBED

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

GASMATA HEAVILY BOMBED

NO ENEMY FIGHTER COVER AIR OFFENSIVE S.-W. PACIFIC Sydney, Nov. 24. In three days General MacArthur's bombers have pounded the Japanese supply base of Gasmata, south-west New Britain with 329 tong of explosives. Their latest punishing assault was made on Monday, our planes unloading 142 tons of bombs. This was the heaviest aerial strike yet made against Casmata. More than 100 Liberator and Mitchell bombers with an escort of Lightning fighters took part in the attack and in addition to the bombing made extensive strafing sweeps, expending 35,000 rounds of ammunition. Considerable damage Mas caused among supply dumps and installations. The Japanese Mere unable to mount any fighter cover but anti-aircraft fire destroyed one Mitchell. About the same time as the Gasmata attack other Liberators dropped 52 tons of bombs on Cape Gloucester aerodrome at the western tip of New Britain, destroying or damaging five enemy planes caught on the ground. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters which records this stepped-up Allied air offensive against Japanese targets in western New Britain also reports* the destruction of a 7000-ton enemy freighter transport near Kavieng, New Ireland. An attacking Liberator scored a direct bomb hit amidships and 30 minutes later our airmen observed the crew abandoning the vessel and being picked up by an escorting destroyer. In the northern Solomons, Admiral Halsey’s bombers are maintaining their neutralising attacks against enemy aerodromes. Corsair and Airacobra fighters on patrol over the American beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay destroyed an entire Japanese raiding force of one divebomber and six fight 4 ers. No further details have been reported of land fighting at Satelberg, New Guinea .where Australian troops are within half a mile of the town. Patrol activity is continuing. Our aircraft are striking against the enemy’s supply lines, particularly in the coastal sector around Wareo. It is possible that Japanese barges have been sneaking supplies for the Satelberg garrison ashore in the Wareo area at night.— P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.