CONVOY DRIVEN OFF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25090, 4 December 1942, Page 3

CONVOY DRIVEN OFF

BUNA LANDING FRUSTRATED SPECTACULAR ACTION (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 3. The Japanese naval forces which were making the sixth attempt to land shock troop reinforcements and supplies for the beleaguered Buna fortress garrison have been driven off. If any enemy reinforcements have been put ashore they are officially described as “ small and not sufficient to alter the land situation." The most spectacular sea and air action of the New Guinea campaign raged about the convoy. Large numbers of enemy fighters provided an air umbrella, and Allied aircraft, in ceaseless attacks, shot down 23 Zeros and damaged many others. Our losses are stated to have been light in spite of fighter and intensive anti-aircraft opposition. The full composition of the Japanese convoy has not been revealed, but it is stated to have been “ shepherded by destroyers.” These destroyers were first sighted about mid-day on Tuesday off Gasmata, New Britain, and from that point onwards they were shadowed relentlessly and attacked continuously for some 15 hours. Only one direct hit on a destroyer has been claimed, but several near misses are believed to have caused damage. Early on Wednesday morning the convoy was seen 40 miles off the coast from Buna and steaming north-west. The first attack on the Japanese ships was made by Flying Fortresses, whicn were engaged by 20 Zeros. In this opening clash five enemy fighters were shot down and a sixth was probably destroyed. When North American bombers swept into the attack three more Zeros were destroyed. Official reports released to-day do not list each successive action, but one of the most dramatic is stated to have occurred when the convoy came close to the coast at Buna under cover of darkness. As our bombers roared down in low-level attacks the enemy ships zig-zagged wildly in an effort to dodge falling bombs. The darkness was split by rockets, flares, and intensive anti-aircraft fire as the destroyers tried to beat off the raiding aircraft. At this stage it was possible that some reinforcements and perhaps stores were put ashore, but the number of troops could not have been large, since the enemy vessels were kept always on the move. The greatest number of barges sighted was 12. Observers report having seen an explosion on a destroyer. In the late stages of the battle Beaufighters swooped low over the destroyers, spraying the decks with machine-gun fire. Havocs then took up the attack, and just before daylight on Wednesday Liberator bombers delivered blows at the convov as it steamed to the north. Throughout all these attacks by night, as well as by day, an umbrella of Zeros was over the enemy ships. The maintenance of this protection must have requmed the greatest number of Japanese fighters yet used in the New Guinea campaign.