RAIDS IN THE PACIFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25737, 8 January 1945, Page 3

RAIDS IN THE PACIFIC

AMERICAN AIR ACTIVITY

FORTRESSES OVER JAPAN

(Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 7. A substantial force of China-based Super Fortresses bombed the Omura aircraft factory at Kyushu on Saturday, says the 20th Air Force communique. The bombing was by precision instruments. The results were not observed. Interception and flak were both described as moderate. One bomber is missing. Preliminary claims say that one enemy fighter was destroyed, five probably destroyed, and three damaged. A communique gives the following damage inflicted on enemy shipping and installations in Formosa and Okinawa by carrier-based aircraft: “A large cargo ship, a medium cargo ship, a small cargo ship, one patrol craft. 10 small coastal cargo ships, 11 small craft, all sunk or destroyed. A destroyer, four destroyer escorts, six patrol craft, a landing ship, two landing craft, two large cargo ships, one medium cargo ship, 34 small cargo ships, and seven small craft, all damaged. Eleven locomotives, four tanks, cars, several trucks, and freight cars destroyed. The Formosa railway bridge over the Tamsui River, the railroad station at Okayama, buildings, warehouses, fuel and ammunition dumps were also destroyed. Seventeen of our aircraft were lost in combat. “ Liberators on January 3 and 4 bombed airstrips and installations at Iwojima. Surface units bombarded the coast defences and airstrip installations of Iwojima on January 1. Numerous fires were observed. Marine aircraft attacked fuel storage facilities at Babel Thuap on January 4. and bombed enemy installations at Yap."