ALL-DAY AIR BATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 26 June 1945, Page 5

ALL-DAY AIR BATTLE

59 JAP. PLANES DESTROYED New York, June 25. Marine pilots shot down 31 and Army pilots 12 in an all-day air battle on Friday, in which 59 enemy planes were destroyed, reports the United Press of America correspondent on Okinawa. Marine Lieut. John Leaper, after shooting down a plane, ran tout of ammunition when attacking another. He radioed: ‘‘l can’t shoot him down, so I’ll chew off his tail.” Leaper crashed his plane into the enemy and then bailed out. He was rescued uninjured. At the height of the engagement four Marine pilots attacked 50 Japanese fighters and bombers, scoring four certains and three probables. One Marine pilot is missing from this engagement. American airmen reported that enemy tactics were more skilful than previous raids. Enemy planes included new Army-Navy types as well as bombers carrying a one-man “Baka” rocket suicide bomb. TOKIO ADMITS FALL OF OKINAWA Conceding the fall of Okinawa, Tokio radio says the defence of Japan has been rendered more difficult than otherwise but the Okinawa campaign exacted a heavy toll from the United States and gained time for Japan to strengthen her defences. 1