AIR OFFENSIVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25134, 27 January 1943, Page 3

AIR OFFENSIVE

SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC SHIPS HIT AT RABAUL (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 1 a.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 26. Diving through an intense anti-air-craft barrage and searchlight screen to as low as 200 feet, Flying Fortresses of General MacArthur’s command scored direct hits on two Japanese ships in Rabaul harbour early yesterday morning. A munitions ship of 2000 tons exploded, while a large hole was torn in the side of another medium-sized merchantman. This was the seventh raid on Rabaul in nine days. The present air activity in both the South-west and South Pacific Command areas is the greatest to date. The most regular target for our recent attacks has been the enemy’s base at Lae. Many thousand pounds of bombs were dropped with devastating effect in building and supply dump areas in a raid yesterday. Some observers suggest that these persistent attacks on Lae are forcing the Japanese to divert their main New Guinea strength to Wewak. nearly 400 miles west of Lae. Considerable enemy fighter opposition has been encountered recently in this area. In contrast, little Japanese fighter opposition has been met over the nearer bases of Madang and Finschhafen. which have also been under frequent attack. The harbour installations at Finschhafen were raided yesterday. Japanese aircraft made further light night raids on Port Moresby and Milne Bay, causing negligible damage.