915 PLANES LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25029, 20 October 1944, Page 5

915 PLANES LOST

DISASTER FOR JAPAN WEEK'S PACIFIC TOLL AMERICAN 'OFFENSIVE '(lecd. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 A reassessment of aircraft losses inflicted on the enerpy shows that during the seven-day period October fi to 15 carrier aircraft destroyed 015 Japanese planes, says a United States Pacific Fleet communique. Of this number, 350 were destroyed on the ground and 565 were shot down in the Ryukyu, Formosa and Luzon areas. Of those shot down, 269 were over targets, 256 in the vicinity of our fleet ' and 40 were brought down by antiaircraft fire. Baied on more complete information, tie following damage was inflicted on enemy shipping off Formosa by our carrier aircraft, these losses being in addition to those reported in Pacific Fleet communiques:— Sunk.—Three Ciargo ships, two coastal cargo ships, 34 small craft. probably Sunk. —One large cargo ship, one oil tanker, three medium cargo ships, five coastal cargo ships, one minelayer, two escort vessels. . Damaged.—Seven small cargo ships, < 11 coastal cargo ships, one oil tanker, 34 small craft. The United States lost 21 planes. The Secretary of the Navy, Mr J. V. Forrestal, said that the Third and Fifth Fleets destroyed 3080 Japanes planes and sunk or damaged 905_ Japanese ihips since early in June. United States submarines had also sunk 32 more Japanese ships, including three destroyers, three escort vessels and 16 cargo vessels. This makes 804 Japanese ships sunk by United States submarines during the war.