BIG ALLIED AIR RAID

Southland Times, Issue 25709, 19 July 1943, Page 5

BIG ALLIED AIR RAID

SEVEN JAPANESE SHIPS_SUNK NORTHERN SOLOMONS (Rec. 8.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 18. Seven Japanese vessels,'four of them warships, have been sunk and 49 enemy fighters destroyed in a great Allied air assault on the northern Solomons. Our losses were six planes. Nearly 200 Allied aircraft took part in attacks on the enemy’s BuinFaisi anchorage. Throughout the night formations of heavy bombers also endeavoured to blanket the Japanese airfields in the area, but the enemy was able to get a considerable fighter interception strength into the air. However, in the battle which ensued his air force, as well as his naval strength, took its most severe mauling since the beginning of the Allied Pacific drive. The result was a smashing Allied victory. Details are given today in General Douglas MacArthur’s communique, which states:— “BOUGAINVILLE-BUIN-FAISI — During the night our heavy bombers executed continuing attacks on Kahili aerodrome for nine hours, starting many fires. Following the preparation our heavy torpedo and dive-bombers in a force with a strong fighter cover attacked enemy shipping in the anchorage with brilliant results. Seven vessels were sunk, comprising one light cruiser or destroyer leader, two destroyers, a submarine chaser, a tanker and two cargo vessels. A third cargo vessel was damaged and beached. The enemy’s air force in strength unsuccessfully attempted to protect the shipping. Forty-nine enemy fighters were shot down in a great aerial combat which resulted in six of our planes being missing.” BIG AIR OFFENSIVE The Allies are developing a pulverizing air offensive throughout the Solomons. On Friday the besieged Munda air base received its heaviest blows when more than 100 planes dropped 82 tons of bombs in two big raids. These air blows were struck in direct support of the American troops, who were moving forward in pouring rain against the Munda defence perimeter. Allied dive-bombers have also operated in direct support of the ground forces in the Bairoki area. Near Vella Lavella a small Japanese cargo ship was bombed and set on fire by one of our aircraft on reconnaissance. Except for the air battle over the Buin-Faisi anchorage General MacArthur’s communiques have reported only slight Japanese aerial activity during the past 48 hours. Indicative of the general Allied air superiority in this theatre is an announcement that the United States 13th Army Air Force shot down 71 Japanese planes in the Solomons during June for the loss of only three American machines. Although reinforced with front-line pilots, according to war correspondents in the area, the Japanese South Pacific Air Force is now taking its biggest thrashing. Further Allied land progress is reported from New Georgia. Following the victory at Mubo the latest reports from the South-west Pacific area headquarters tell of patrol activity and the spokesman said the progress was continuing. The Allied forces are putting on the pressure in the northern sector of the Salamaua area. RAID ON BOBDUBI Our aircraft have raided Japanese positions near Bobdubi and on the Salamaua Isthmus. On Saturday medium bombers dropped 30 tons of explosives on enemy installations at Salamaua. Direct hits on ammunition and fuel dumps caused large explosions and numerous fires. When four Japanese aircraft raided Allied stations on Langa Island they were driven off by anti-aircraft fire. Langa Island is about 15 miles south of Nassau Bay. It is one of the points occupied by the Allies in their northerly expansion along the New Guinea coast from Gona. KIRIWINA AIRFIELDS Runways Easily Drained (Rec. 8.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 18. The American forces engaged on airfield construction on Kiriwina Island, the largest of the Trobriand group, will find little difficulty in draining runways and dispersal areas. An Australian war correspondent there says the water quickly percolates through the coral, which forms the island. Even after a downpour of several inches the surface soil is soon dry. Fresh drinking water may be found almost anywhere on Kiriwina merely by sinking a well about 20 feet deep. Once the water level is found the well is kept filled by the rise and fall of the tide. The lime composition of the coral filters the sea water, so that it requires no chemical treatment to make it fit for drinking.