FIERCE AIR FIGHT
JAPANESE OVER PAPUA RAID ON ALLIED POST 14 ENEMY PLANUS DOWN (Special Australian Correspondent) « (Reed, tl.no ji.ni.) SYDNEY, March 12 Lightning and Kittvhawk fighters shot 14 Japanese planes out of action in a fierce air battle over Oro Bay, on the north coast of Papua, about 20 miles south-east of Buna, on Thursday. These enemy | planes were part of a force of 40 (24 bombers and 16 fighters) raiding Allied shipping and shore installations. Nine Zeros were destroyed for certain and three more Zeros and two bombers are claimed as probably destroyed. The Allied losses were light. A formation of nine .Japanese bombers and l.'i fighters sank a small Allied vessel in Oro Hay on Monday. Thursday's raid was the second time this week that the enemy has employed a force of more than 20 bombers in the New Guinea zone. On Tuesday 26 bombers, escorted by 21 Zeros, raided Wau. Two twin-engined bombers again attacked Wau after sundown on Thursday, but thfly caused neither damage nor casualties.
Our Liberator bombers made a raid on the J/akunai aerodrome, Rabaul, before dawn on Thursday, but heavy clouds prevented observation of the results. in the Mnbo area, about 30 miles from Wau, Havork attack bombers swept enemy positions along the Yickers and Guadagasal ridges. There is 110 additional news of ground fighting in tliic lnnfllii.v.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24531, 13 March 1943, Page 7
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226FIERCE AIR FIGHT New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24531, 13 March 1943, Page 7
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