ALLIED AIR OFFENSIVE INCREASED ACTIVITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25212, 29 April 1943, Page 5

ALLIED AIR OFFENSIVE

INCREASED ACTIVITY

(Rec 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Apl. 28. Allied bombers and long-range fighters were over 13 Japanese bases in the South-west Pacific on Tuesday in a burst of increased offensive activity, it is reported in General MacArthur’s communique to-day. The targets attacked included cargo ships, supply dumps, and enemy-occupied areas. The Japanese base of Nabire was mentioned for the first time. Nabire is on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea, south-east of . Geelvink Bay. Other unusual targets featured m the communique included Watdek (Kei Islands), Rebi (Aru Islands), and Bern (Timor). Two 4000-ton ships wen# attacked by a heavy bomber in the Arafura Sea' "50'-miles north-west of Dobo. A direct hit and a close mist were scared on the bow of one ship, and two near misses on the other. Targets in New Britain and along the north coast of New Guinea were also attacked.

The heaviest raid was made on Lae, where heavy., bombers attacked the aerodrome ..at dusk, while long-range fighters thoroughly strafed barge concealment areas in Labu Lagoon. Boston attack planes again strafed the Japanese position on Green Hill, near Mubo, 11 miles inland from Salamaua. There are no further reports on the ground fighting in this area.