SHOT FROM SKY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25187, 30 March 1943, Page 3

SHOT FROM SKY

AIR FLEET SMASHED COSTLY JAPANESE RAID BATTLE OVER NEW GUINEA (N.Z.P.A. Specal Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Mar. 29. A brilliant Allied fighter interception yesterday shattered the greatest Japanese air concentration ever sent into action over New Guinea. When the enemy made a noon raid on Oro Bay, northern Papua, Kittyhawks and Lightnings shot out of combat 25 planes from the enemy formation, comprising 40 bombers with strong fighter escort. The total number of enemy aircraft involved was certainly more than 60. The raid resulted in the sinking of one small Allied vessel and damage to another. The Allied plane losses were “extremely light” and our casualties were also small. The Japanese force comprised 25 medium bombers and 15 dive-bombers. Of a large escorting fighter screen 19 planes were destroyed or damaged The official score was as follows: Definitely destroyed. 11 Zeros and two dive-bombers. Shot out of action (damaged, but destruction not confirmed): Eight Zeros and four dive-bombers. The Allied fighters were already in the air when the Japanese air fleet came over. The big raid on Darwin on February 19. 1942, was one of the few occasions when the enemy’s attacking strength of Sunday has been surpassed in the South-west Pacific. The outcome o,f the latest action was a further heavy blow to Japanese attempts to retrieve their air position in this theatre. Allied Air Supremacy Virtually the unchallenged Allied air supremacy in northern New Guinea has resulted in the semi-starvation of the Japanese garrisons in the Lae-Sala-maua-Mubo area. The supplies reaching these bases by submarines, which have run the Allied air blockade, have been totally inadequate. One submarine has already been destroyed by Allied bombing. In their efforts to relieve the hardpressed garrisons the Japanese have developed an overland supply route from Madang to Lae, a distance of about 200 trail miles. This route leads through the Markham Valley, and its use was begun following the destruction of the Lae-bound convoy in January. when more than 100 of the enemy’s fighter umbrella were shot down. A few native porter food trains are known to have got through, but on the long journey they were forced to eat almost all the supplies they were able to carry. Thus the empty-handed reinforcements increased the food .problems of the already under-nourished garrisons.

Since the Bismarck Sea battle early this month, when 22 Japanese ships were sunk, the movement of supplies by the overland route has increased. The disruption of this supply line has been the purpose of recent strafing sweeps by Allied aircraft along the Markham Valley. The past week has seen attacks every day on objectives in this area.

The position of the enemy garrisons in the Lae-Salamaua-Mubo area has also become steadily worse by the increasing pressure from the Allied ground forces, for whom Oro Bay is the one supply base. While the Australians are maintaining patrol initiative in the Mubo area, other Allied forces have made an arduous push along the north New Guinea coast from Sanananda and are now close to Morobe. They have reached the fastflowing Waria River about 90 miles north-west of Sanananda, after a hard fighting trek through some of the worst country in New Guinea. Excellent Progress Since the Sanananda fighting ceased only on January 22 this constitutes excellent progress. In their advance the Allied forces have killed or captured hundreds of Japanese, but they have not encountered any large-scale organised resistance. Between Morobe and Salamaua the country is partially without track -and is almost uninhabited. It forms a dense rain forest between the Bowutu Range and the sea. Morobe itself is on a peninsula running into Eware Inlet, a well-shel-tered harbour. Once the Government station at Morobe had the reputation of being New Guinea’s worst disease spot. It is reported that in the South Pacific area. too. Allied air supremacy is becoming more marked. The American Air Force on Guadalcanar is now operating from three landing strips, in addition to the main Henderson Field. Major Jack Cram, pilot aide to General Roy Geiger, Air Force Chief in the Solomons, told the American United Press correspondent that these new strips have enabled the Americans to win air superiority. The Japanese airfields at Munda and Vila, 180 miles from Guadalcanar, are taking a terrific pounding. Other Air Attacks Other air attacks are reported in General MacArthur’s communique as follows: — Langgoer (Kai Islands): One of our medium units bombed the town from a low altitude. Dobo (Aroe Islands): Our medium units executed a low-level bombing and strafing attack on the wharf area, causing numerous fires in the buildings and warehouses hear the jetty. Gasmata (New Britain): One of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome, scoring direct hits on the runway. Cape Gloucester: In a harassing night raid one of our medium units bombed and strafed enemy installations near the aerodrome. Madang (New Guinea): One of our heavy bombers raided the town, causing fires and explosions. Finschhafen: One of our medium units bombed and strafed the aerodrome and wharf area during the night, starting numerous fires. During the day one of our heavy bombers strafed two heavily laden motor barges up the coast, destroying both barges and" contents. Buna: Under cover of darkness two enemy aircraft raided the village of Kurireda, causing no damage.