AIR SUCCESSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25110, 29 December 1942, Page 3

AIR SUCCESSES

SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC 34 ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED FOUR SHIPS WRECKED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Corres.) (Rec. 1 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 28. Spectacular new Allied air * successes have been won in the South-west Pacific battle zone. The week-end score of Japanese aircraft destroyed was at least 31, probably 34, and four more enemy ships have been wrecked at Rabaul.

In furious air battles over New Guinea on Sunday 19 enemy aircraft were shot down. Lockheed Lightnings won a signal success when they dived on a formation of 27 Zeros-and 15 dive-bombers over Buna. Thirteen of the Zeros and two dive-bombers were destroyed. The remainder of the enemy force turned tail and fled.

In use for the first time in the New Guinea battle zone the Lightnings made a sensational combat debut. Only 12 of them were in the fight, but, in spite of heavy odds, none of the new Allied fighters was lost. One received slight damage. Of twin-fuselaged design, the Lightnings have great speed and fire-power. Their pilots.,have been “spoiling” for a clash with Japanese fighters for some time, and the outcome of the Buna air battle is being hailed with delight. Allied anti-aircraft fire destroyed one Zero over Buna, while three more were shot down when they attacked Hudsons engaged in transport work. Patrolling Kittyhawks entered the fight and drove off the attackers. One Hudson loaded with A.I.F. wounded was' damaged, and the pilot made a forced landing in the sea. Two of the wounded were killed. Rabaul Heavily Pounded The main Japanese southward air base of Rabaul is now being pounded from two flanks—by the air forces of both General MacArthur and Admiral Halsey. The latest raid, which followed the Christmas Day attack from Guadalcanal was by heavy bombers of General MacArthur’s command, consisting of Liberators and Fortresses, which reached their targets in the face of intense ground opposition. A deluge of 5001 b bombs on the harbour and shipping was followed by showers of incendiaries on Rabaul township. The most important shipping victim was a 15,000-ton, transport, which was last seen lying on its side in the centre of the harbour. Two other 8000-ton vessels were set ablaze in the harbour, while a third of 8000 tons, left burning in St. George’s Channel, was abandoned by her crew. The attack was made in hazy weather, and the damage is believed to have been even greater than is claimed in General MacArthur’s communique. These combined raids on Rabaul have been interpreted by the Washington correspondent of the New York Times as “the beginning of an Allied offensive which could result in an early amphibious attack on this Japanese base.” The correspondent points out that several enemy supporting bases, including Lae, Salamaua, Munda, and Buna, must be cleaned up first, but he emphasises that the twin aerial campaign against Rabaul from Australia and the Solomons is a great forward move which will make it difficult for the Japanese to maintain effective defences at Rabaul as well as at the satellite bases. Widespread Offensive

Other widespread Allied air offensives in the South-west Pacific theatres have included attacks on the new Japanese aerodrome at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, and the destruction of enemy warehouses at Madang and Finschhapen, New Guinea, where Japanese reinforcements landed recently.

Systematic attacks are also being kept up against the Japanese in Timor. jSupplies and road transport at Laivai, on the coast, about 70 miles from Dilli, have again been bombed and strafed.