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MANY TARGETS

ALLIED AIR OFFENSIVE HEAVY ATTACK ON RABAUL (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 12. The Japanese positions in the Sala-maua-Mubo sector are the targets for the heaviest air attacks in the New Guinea war. For the fourth successive day Allied bombers on Sunday were out in strength, dropping nearly 50 tons of bombs on objectives which had earlier taken a terrific pounding. Mitchell medium bombers were prominent in these raids, concentrating particularly on the Bobdubi area, south of Salamaua. Zeros made three attempts at interception, and it is reported that five enemy fighters were shot down for certain, as well as two others probably destroyed. Two of our escorting Lockheed-Lightnings are missing. The Japanese also lost four Zeros over Babo (Dutch New Guinea) on Saturday, when 10 enemy fighters intercepted Liberators raiding the aerodrome. One Liberator was lost in combat. Three Japanese float planes and one flying boat were hit when our planes attacked the enemy seaplane base at Taberiane (Aru Islands). Japan’s key Southern Pacific base of Rabaul, from which aircraft could go to the assistance of Japanese forces in the Central Solomons, was heavilyattacked before dawn on Sunday. Liberators and Flying Fortresses unloaded 35 tons of bombs on the runway and dispersal area at the Vunakanau aerodrome. As the last of our bombers left the target area a big explosion occurred, and several large fires were observed.

General MacArthur's communique today reports the sinking by Allied surface units on Saturday of four loaded enemy supply barges in the Huon Gulf. Salamaua area. This is the first time the use of Allied surface craft along this section of the North New Guinea coast has been reported. It has not bsen revealed what type of naval craft were engaged, but it is known that speedy patrol torpedo-boats were used in the recent American landings on Nassau Bay. Some commentators suggest that craft of this type were probably responsible for the sinking of the enemy barges.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19430713.2.61

Bibliographic details

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 5

Word Count
326

MANY TARGETS Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 5

MANY TARGETS Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 5