MUNDA AIRFIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25300, 10 August 1943, Page 3

MUNDA AIRFIELD

REPAIRS BY ALLIES RECENT NAVAL VICTORY (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 11.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 9. American construction battalions are already rushing the rebuilding of the Munda airfield, which is being enlarged to accommodate all types of aircraft. In a few days heavy bombers, with fighter escort, will be able to operate as far as Rabaul. This is reported by an Australian war correspondent in the Solomons. The work of repairing the Munda airfield, he says, is proceeding without interruption. The area around the airfield is free of Japanese, although enemy groups are being mopped up along the north-west coast of New Georgia as far as Bairoko. The Japanese are reported to be reinforcing their garrisons at Vella Lavella and Kolombangara in preparation for what may be Admiral W. Halsey’s next moves. The enemy warships sunk in the Vella Gulf on Friday, it is revealed, were packed with troops. Most of these must have lost their lives. The American ships were unmarked, and did not suffer a single casualty. They remained in the gulf several hours after the action rescuing Japanese survivors. The battle, which was fought within sight of the enemy shore garrisons, again demonstrated the completeness of the American naval superiority. The Japanese warships, which were carrying reinforcements, are believed to have come from Rabaul.

Pilots of Allied aircraft on night patrol watched the action. They saw the enemy cruiser burst into flames that quickly spread to the magazines. Heavy explosions tore the warship as she lay helpless in a sea of blazing oil. The flames spreading over the water illuminated the three accompanying enemy destroyers, and shells were poured into them. General MacArthur sent a message to Admiral Halsey congratulating him on this newest Allied naval victory. He said: “Please express to the commanders and all ranks and ratings of the task force engaged my admiration for their brilliant action in the Vella Gulf. It is but further evidence of the magnificent fighting qualities of our naval forces.”

Maintaining the Allied attacks against Japanese naval and supply units. Liberator bombers from South Pacific bases yesterday flew halfway to the great enemy base of Truk, in the Caroline Islands, to bomb another convoy. It is the most northerly penetration yet made by our bombers in the Southern Pacific, Truk being about 800 miles north of the Central Solomons. The convoy was sighted west of Greenwich Island and about 300 miles north-east of Kavieng, New Ireland. The Liberators attacked an 8500-ton freighter-transport, a second cargo vessel, and a destroyer, but the results were not observed. Sixty-three tons of bombs, many of them 1000 and 2000-poimders, have been dropped on the enemy base at Vila (Kolombangara Island) in sustained daylight attacks avengers and Corsairs attacked Vila town, gun positions, supply dumps, and barracks during the morning, and in the afternoon other bombers with strong fighter escort attacked Kape Harbour, a naval depot 19 miles north-east of Vila. Adverse weather yesterday hampered all air operations in the South-west Pacific area.