MASS OF FLAMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24821, 18 February 1944, Page 3

MASS OF FLAMES

KAVIENG POUNDED SHIPPING DESTROYED ALLIED AIRMEN RESCUED (Special Australian Correspondent) .Reed. 8.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 17 Kavieng, the main Japanese base in New Ireland, has pounded by a large force of Allied planes, which left the town a mass of flames and smoke. A 3000-ton cargo ship, three coastal vessels and several smaller craft in the harbour were sunk, two float-planes destroyed and three others damaged. Intense anti-aircraft fire brought down eight Allied planes. Associated with the shooting down of these planes was the daring rescue of a number of American airmen by a United States Catalina. Piloted by Lieutenant Nathan Gordon, the Cata-' lina made four landings under heavy lire from the enemy shore batteries and rescued 15 members of the crews of the planes which had been forced down. Several of the rescued men were Injured. Lietitenant Gordon's Catalina was damaged by the rough seas, but he succeeded in getting every Allied airman aboard. Catalinas accompany all Allied air assault forces for rescue purposes. Japanese shipping has also suffered in the New Guinea zone, where a 1000ton freighter was sunk and n submarine chaser was damaged at Wewak. Seven Zeros were shot down and two others probably destroyed in a clash with Allied fighters. In a low-level attack on Dagua aerodrome made last Monday 27 Japanese aircraft on the ground were destroyed or damaged.