LIBERATOR RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25241, 2 June 1943, Page 3

LIBERATOR RAID

BOMBING OF LAE A CONCENTRATED ATTACK (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 1. The bad weather over thv Southwest Pacific area is of greater service to the Japanese than to the Allies. General MacArthur’s reconnaissance planes, continuing the search for the enemy convoy of four merchantmen and two destroyers attacked by a single bomber last Saturday, have been unable to locate it along the north New Guinea coast. The belief is growing that the convoy succeeded in landing reinforcements and supplies for the enemy’s Wewak garrison under m;»r of heavy cloud, and has since withdrawn to its base. Liberators braved the adverse conditions on Monday morning to make the biggest raid yet reported on the hard-pressed Japanese North New Guinea base of Lae. To-day’s Southwest Pacific communique says: "Qur heavy bombers attacked in force, dropping 36 tons of high explosives from a medium altitude on the runway, on the town area, and on the waterfront. The damage is believed to have been extensive. Anti-aircraft fire was encountered. All our planes returned.” The Liberators went over in two formations, and the raid lasted only 1U minutes. They concentrated their main attack on the terrace area, which was once the residential section of Lae, but is now believed to be the main dispersal point for military stores. North of Australia, Beaufighters from a mainland base machine-gunned the Langgoer aerodrome in the Kei Islands in an early-morning raid. They destroyed one medium bomber and damaged one fighter caught on the ground. Of the six Zeros which attempted interception one was shot down. All the Beaufighters came safely home. The only other offensive activity reported in General MacArthur’s latest .communique was an attack by a lone Allied reconnaissance bomber on the Japanese North New Guinea base of Finschhafen.