MANILA BAY RAID

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25052, 16 November 1944, Page 6

MANILA BAY RAID

-DESTROYERS EXPLODE HAVOC AMONG, SHIPPING CARRIER PLANES ATTACK By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 Hellcats, Avengers and Helldiver bombers of Pacific Fleet carrier task " . groups attacked enemy shipping and installations in and around Manila , Bay on Sunday, says a Pacific Fleet communique. One enemy light . cruiser was badly damaged and two • destroyers exploded. It is estimated that 11 cargo and oil shins were sunk or set on fire. One floating dock was hit by a torpedo. Many docks in Manila Bay and the Cavite navy -V yard were struck. • Eighteen of twenty intercepting " enemy aircraft were shot down over - Luzon and ten were shot down near tho task groups. It is estimated that bet; tween 130 hnd 140 single and twin--engined enemy planes on the Legaspi, ' Manila and Clark airstrips were strafed. One of our surface ships was dam- " aged. The carrier task groups engaged in tho operation wero under tho tactical command of Rear-Admiral Fred- - erick Sherman. The communique adds that Marine Corsairs strafed and bombed the Northern Pelew area on Saturday. One small enemy vessel was sunk. The Tokyo radio said that 800 American carrier-based planes made a twoday series of raids on the Manila area, including the Cavite naval base and • Clark and other airfields, causing some ;> damage to Japanese warships. It added "-' •that 400 sorties were flown each day and claimed that Japanese fighters shot ' down or damaged 73 of tho American • - planes. , A Japanese communique claimed -• Tfchat Japanese planes sank an American ibattleship east of Luzon yesterday.