RAID ON SALAMAUA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 3

RAID ON SALAMAUA

ALLIED AIR OFFENSIVE WIDESPREAD ATTACKS (Rec. 10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 10. In widespread attacks throughout the South-west Pacific yesterday Allied aircraft dropped 224 tons of bombs on Japanese installations. One of the heaviest attacks ever made on the enemy’s Northern New Guinea stronghold of Salamaua saw 103 tons of explosives dropped on. the town, harbour, and river districts. Fires and explosions were caused. In the Solomons the American forces which captured the Munda airfield are pushing forward through the jungle quagmire created by torrential rain, against Bairoko Harbour, the last Japanese foothold on New Georgia. Supporting the ground advance, our aircraft dropped 22 tons of bombs on the enemy positions. ~ _ _ It is’revealed that 11 disabled Japanese planes were captured when the Munda airfield was wrested from the enemy last Thursday.. Vila aerodrome (Kolombangara Island), just 10 miles from Bairoko, was twice attacked yesterday. Our heavy and medium bombers, with fighter escort, dropped 63 tons of bombs. In New Guinea, apart from the big attack on Salamaua, General MacArthur’s aircraft have also been active in intensive coastal sweeps Strong formations of Mitchells twice attacked the Bogadjim area, near Madang. Considerable damage was caused to bridges constructed in camp areas on the main coast road. Over the Tala Sea, on the north coast of New Britain, a Liberator on reconnaissance was attacked by nine Zeros. One of the enemy fighters was shot down, three were damaged, and the remainder driven off. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters also reports an attack by Liberators and Mitchells on Ambon, 580 miles north of Darwin, where 36 tons of bombs were dropped in the target area, causing explosions and fires.