HUGE FIRES RAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 April 1944, Page 5

HUGE FIRES RAGE

JAP BASE OF HOLLANDIA SIXTH AIR ATTACK IN 15 DAYS OTHER WIDESPREAD ALLIED RAIDS Sydney, April 14. Huge flies raged at Hollandiu artcr 200 Allied planes attacked this key Japanese base for the sixth time in 15 days. The attack lasted 40 minutes in which 322 lons of explosives and 89,000 rounds of ammunition were used. Smoke from blazing buildings and dumps rose 10,000 feet in the air. Several heavy gun positions were knocked out by 1000 and sJoolb bombs. In Humboldt Bay a 2000-ton freighter was destroyed and two smaller freighters, seven coastal vessels and several barges were set on fire by bombing and strafing. Of 20 defending enemy fighters eight were destroyed and 10 damaged. One of our planes was shot down and others sustained damage. At Vanino our air patrols attacked a small enemy freighter, driving it aground. Bivouac and supply areas at Dagua were attacked by our heavy units, 35 tons of bombs being used. Fires were caused in the Ilansa Bay-Madang area. Our heavy units attacked defences at Uligan with 41 tons of bombs, causing large fuel fires. Others bombed targets at Kerchiprinz harbour. At Karkan Island, our medium units and attack planes destroyed several buildings by bombing and strafing. EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY Our torpedo, dive and fighter-bomb-ers attacked enemy positions south and east of Empress Augusta Bay. causing fires. Our air patrols attacked shore defences and coastal targets off the south-west coast in the Shortland Islands and in the Buka area. In the Caroline Islands our Solomonsbased air patrols at night bombed a warehouse area at Dublon. starting fires. Other patrols at midday bombed Alet aerodrome in Pulawat atoll, 200 miles to the west Truk was also bombed.