RAID ON KURILES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24690, 16 September 1943, Page 5

RAID ON KURILES

HALF BOMBERS LOST STRENGTH OF DEFENCES MUCH SHIPPING DAMAGED (Reed. 10.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 15 A formation of 20 United States Navy medium bombers successfully attacked the Paramushiro. Island area, in the Kurile Islands, north of Japan A Navy Department communique announcing this adds that, in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter interception, the bombers scored numerous hits on ground installations and set fire to a transport, which was left sinking. Another transport was damaged and three cargo ships were hit, one exploding. The bombers also strafed and set fire to numerous small craft.

Over 25 fighters attacked the American planes. In a 50-minute running engagement the Americans shot down 13. The Americans lost four planes due to enemy action and six others failed to return to their base. The attack was the hottest, most deadly and most costly aerial action in the North Pacific, reports the United Press correspondent at the Eleventh Air Force headquarters in Alaska. Ten of the 20 bombers failed to return. Most of the returning planes were badly damaged and carried dead and wounded members of their crews.

Two Japanese strongholds, the army base at Kashawabara and the naval base at Kataoka on Shimvishu Island, had obviously been preparing for attacks since the raid on August 11. Pilots described the anti-aircraft fire as the heaviest and most accurate they_ had ever seen. At least one battleship is' believed to have been among the naval craft which were sending up vicious curtains of flak from Paramushiro Strait,

One pilot said the attacking force lacked fighter assistance, and did not have sufficient bombers to give mutual support.