WEWAK POUNDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25455, 9 February 1944, Page 3

WEWAK POUNDED

DEVASTATING AIR RAID RABAUL AGAIN ATTACKED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 8. Japanese ships and barges in the port of Wewak, north-east New Guinea, area, have been pounded in a devastating Allied ‘air attack. Earlier raids had practically neutralised Wewak as ail enemy air base. In their latest blow, which was struck on Saturday, our planes destroyed more than 30 barges and a 2000-ton freighter (possibly a troop carrier bringing replacements), as well as setting fire to two small coastal vessels and a corvette. The Japanese air interference vvas light, but the fighters covering the Allied bombers shot down four enemy machines. At Hansa Bay, midway between Wewak and Madang, our medium bombers and fighters, sweeping the coast, sank a Japanese coastal vessel and four barges. Near Madang, enemy island installations were hit with 68 tons of explosives. Momote aerodrome, at Lorengau (Admiralty Islands) was the target for 81 tons of bombs. Rabaul (New Britain) was again attacked on Saturday by more than 150 of our Solomons-based aircraft. Nearly 40 tons of bombs were concentrated on Lakunai aerodrome. Intense anti-air-craft fire was encountered, but the enemy fighter defence was weak. Seven enemy planes were shot down, and four others probably destroyed. We lost four planes.