AIR ASSAULT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25384, 16 November 1943, Page 5

AIR ASSAULT

NEW GUINEA TARGETS VITAL AREA DAMAGED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 15. Making their heaviest air assault ot the New Guinea war. Allied bombers on Saturday morning unloaded 223 tons of bombs over 12 miles of Japanese airfields and installations from Alexishafen to Madang. The bombing was supported bv a large-scale strafing attack, and heavy damage resulted throughout the area, which is vital to the enemy as a forward base for fighting in the Ramu Valley. Fii-es raged in towns, villages, and on aerodromes. Four Japanese planes were destroyed on the ground, and three luggers and five barges in Madang Harbour were sunk or damaged. General MacArthur’s communique says that the entire target area was covered with smoke as our bombers left. The raid was the second heaviest of the war in the South-west Pacific. The record bombing assault was against Rabaul on October 12, when 350 tons of explosives were dropped. The heaviest previous raid on a New Guinea target was on Satelberg, near Finschhafen, where 221 tons of bombs were dropped on October 21. Saturday’s aerial blow was the fourth of the week against the AlexishafenMadang area and must materially assist the forward Australian troops in the Ramu. Valley and around Finschhafen by reducing enemy air opposition and minimising Japanese ability to supply their own forward troops. ■■ No official announcement has been made of the number of Allied planes employed in the raid, but a considerable force of Liberator and Mitchell

bombers participated, as well as Kittyhawk, Airacobra, and the new highaltitude Thunderbolt fighters. There was no enemy air interception. General MacArthur’s reconnaissance aircraft continue to report Japanese shipping movements in the Kaviang area, north of Rabaul. The latest advices mention the appearance of 10 vessels. Torpedo and bombing planes attacked with unobserved results. The communique reports that a 1000ton enemy cargo ship was sunk off Larat Island in the Tenimber, Group; five float planes were destroyed at Greenwich Island, north of the equator; two planes were shot down near New Georgia, in the Solomons, and three barges were destroyed near Sio, in north-east New Guinea.