BOMBING RAIDS CONTINUED

Southland Times, Issue 24986, 24 February 1943, Page 5

BOMBING RAIDS CONTINUED

Main Enemy Bases Attacked (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 23. Japan’s three main bases in the north-eastern sector of the south-west Pacific Command were again under attack by General MacArthur’s bombers. For the fifth successive night Catalinas on Monday raided Buin and the Faisi area in the northern Solomons. Flying Fortresses were over the enemy’s base at Rabaul, while 15 tons of bombs were dropped in a destructive combined raid on Lae.

The attack on enemy positions in the northern Solomons was on a smaller scale than those preceding it. Fires visible for 40 miles were started in the aircraft dispersal areas at Kahili and Ballale aerodromes. Lakuna aerodrome and shore installations at the northern end of Simpson’s harbour were attacked by Flying Fortresses in a raid on Rabaul before dawn. The damage was not reported. In the Lae area Mitchells, Havocs and Beaufighters combined in a devastating sweep. A number of 1000 pound bombs were dropped on Malahang aerodrome and nearby, on the enemy occupied villages of Qagan, Bitibum, Laba, Kalpa, and Kobo. Great damage was done to light constructions in these villages and many fires were started. Japanese fighters did not attempt interception. A BOMB ALLEY

Allied airmen are making “a bomb alley” of the Komiatum trail along which the Japanese are endeavouring to supply their forces retreating from Wau and how in the Mubo area. In constant low-level strafing attacks they skim tree tops seeking out enemy troops. Often the targets are hidden and only later reports disclose the extent of the damage done. The disruption of enemy supplies is now known to have resulted in many enemy soldiers in this area being starved to death. Heavy casualties have also been inflicted by aerial machine-gun-ning attacks. Many occupied villages in Wipaining and Guadagasal were targets for the latest raid on this area by Havocs. Japanese aerodromes at Lorengau in the Admiralty Islands and at Gasmata have been attacked by Liberators. The only offensive activities by the Japanese were two small scale night raids on the Port Moresby’area. They caused no damage or casualties.