ATTACK ON RABAUL

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15075, 22 June 1942, Page 3

ATTACK ON RABAUL

BIGGEST ALLIED BOMBER FORGE JAP. SHIPPING PASTED. 10,000 TON TRANSPORT HIT. id Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, June 21. the biggest Allied bomber ar employed in the Southfrc area attacked Rabaul on. , found a considerable coni of Japanese shipping at ith only small fighter plane jn. Three diiect hits were ** '~N Jn a 10,000-to>n transport a-nd war vessels in the. harbour were probably damaged. It is understood that the quantity of shipping in the harbour was not of invasion strength, but was sufficient to indicate that the Japanese had received substantial reinforcements probably of both men and supplies. Our bombers also attacked the Vunakanau aerodrome near Rabaul where bombs were dropped among en-emy-grounded aircraft. One intercepting Zero fighter was certainly destroyed and another probably destroyed. All our planes returned safely. This vas the sixth Allied attack on Rabaul in the past two weeks. The latest raid was made a few days after the Japanese renewed their attacks on Port Moresby The aim of the heavy Allied attacks on Rabaul is undoubtedly to neutralise this main enemy base, thus increasing the difficulties of attacks on Port Moresby. A communique from General Mac- j Arthur’s Headquarters states: “Our air force-' in heavy strength successfully- attacked enemy aerodromes and shipping afc Rabaul. Three bombs landed amoi:<g a group of grounder enemy bombers, destroying them. Other bombs raked aerodromes and buildings in the dock area. In th*harbour a 10.000-ton transport received three direct bits and other vessels were probablv damaged. Seven Zeros and two float planes attempted to intercept. One enemy plane was shot down, and another probably destroyed. All of ours returned safely.” Australian messages describe thi~> raid as one of the heaviest ever carried out in the South-west Pacific area. However, the reference to the presence of shipping in the harbour does not mean that a big concentration was encountered Today’s South-west Pacific communique states that Allied bomber* hit an enemy wharf and installations in a successful night attack on Rahau! Allied airmen bombed the aerodrome at Lae, destroying two enemy bombers on the ground Interception by Zeros proved ineffective.