CONVOY VANISHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24535, 18 March 1943, Page 3

CONVOY VANISHES

TURNED BACK OR SUNK ATTACKS ON TOWN OF DOBO (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 8.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 17 Tbo Japan oso convoy headed for Dobo, in the Am Islands, north of Darwin, on Monday afternoon, is believed to have been driven off by the sustained attacks of Allied bombers. Hudsons and Beaufighters went out again on Tuesday to continue the attacks on the three troop-laden ships, but could find no trace of them. The search extended throughout the entire Aru Islands coast line, the Banda Sea area and along Southern New Guinea. As hits were claimed "on two ships and near hits on the third, it is possible they later sank, but this is not officially claimed. No debris was seen. The official communique says early morning reconnaissance of the seas north of the Aru Islands failed to locate any enemy shipping. The air attacks on the previous afternoon evidently forced the small convoy to retire without reaching its destination. One of our medium units bombed and strafed a small enemy merchant ship in the bay near Kaimana, Dutch New Guinea. Our heavy bombers attacked three enemy medium cargo vessels at Cape Vandenbosch with unobserved results. Medium bombers attacked the town of Dobo on successive days, scoring hits among barrack buildings and on a radio station. Three enemy luggers near Wokam wore strafed and left sinking. Long-range fighters executed strafing attacks on buildings, huts and tents at Doho and Wokam and on surface craft in adjacent waters. THRILLING DOGFIGHTS ENEMY RAID ON DARWIN 50 OR 60 BOMBS DROPPED (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 8.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 17 Further details have now been revealed of Monday's unsuccessful largescale enemy air raid on Darwin, when Spitfires went into action for the fourth time since the announcement of their presence in the area. The 25 enemy bombers, with their escort of 24 Zeros, came in from the sea at 22,000 ft. in three perfect V formations. They employed the pattern bombing system. As they approached the town each V spread out into a straight line, the bomb doors were opened and 50 or 60 bombs came screaming down together. While the alert was being sounded Royal Air "Force and Royal Australian Air Force Spitfires were already in the air. They engaged the Zero escort high above the bombers and quickly had the best of the enemy in thrilling dogfights ranging over 20 square miles. When a Japanese bomber was shot down its companion planes in the formation closed in, but they never wavered. The whole raid was over in 15 minutes and an inspection later showed that the damage and casualties were light. SOLOMONS BOMBINGS ' Recti. 5.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March id The United States Navy Department states that on Monday evening Dauntless dive-bombers, with a Wildcat escort, bombed Japanese positions at Vila and Munda, in the Central Solomons. The results are not reported. All the United States planes returned. AXIS WARSHIP LOSSES LONDON, March 10 In the House of Lords, Viscount Bruntisfield, Parliamentary Secretary to' the Admiralty, said that the total Axis warships known to have been destroyed since tlio outbreak of war was three battleships, ono pocket battleship, six aircraft-carriers, 31 cruisers, 157 destroyers and torpedo boats, four raiders and 101 miscellaneous warships.