RAID ON PONAPE
FRINGE OF CAROLINES NO FIGHTER OPPOSITION WASHINGTON. Feb. 16 American planes have Ponape, a largo enemy base only 400 miles from Truk. This is the deepest penetration of the Carolines, states a message from Washington. Bombers believed to be based at Kwajalein carried out the attack. A communique from the headquarters of tho Pacific Fleet states: "Army Liberators attacked Ponape in considerable force on Monday, dropping over 55 tons of bombs, principally on shore installations, and sinking a small cargo vessel in the harbour. No fighter opposition was encountered and all the planes returned. "Liberator, Mitchell, Dauntless and Warhawk planes and Navy search planes continued the attack on enemy bases in the Marshalls on Monday and Tuesday, bombing installations on five atolls. A search plane attacked Mejifc Island, in tho Eastern Marshalls, on Monday." Ponape Island is roughly 700 miles west of Kwajalein. Unlike the Marshalls, most of which are only a few feet above the water, Ponape Island rises to over 1000 ft. It is 15 mile 3 across, and the Japanese have made it the administrative centre for the eastern part of the Carolines group.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24821, 18 February 1944, Page 3
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190RAID ON PONAPE New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24821, 18 February 1944, Page 3
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