AMERICAN AIR ATTACK ON PHILIPPINES

Southland Times, Issue 25478, 26 September 1944, Page 5

AMERICAN AIR ATTACK ON PHILIPPINES

ENEMY LOSSES IN PLANES AND SHIPS (United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 24. Carrier-based aircraft, continuing the smashing attack against the northern Philippines begun on Wednesday, took an additional heavy toll of enemy planes, ships and ground installations on Thursday, says a Pacific Fleet communique. The total destruction in their two-day strike was extensive anc( the enemy suffered heavily. The following damage, part of which has been previously reported, was inflicted' at and near Clark and Nichols fields in the Manila Harbour area and at the Cavite Naval Base during the two-day operations in southern Luzon: Forty ships and six small craft sunk; 11 ships probably sunk; 35 ships and 11 small craft and two dry docks damaged; 169 planes shot down in combat; 188 planes destroyed on the ground; 45 planes probably damaged on the ground and three planes damaged by ships’ gunfire. .

Extensive and widespread damage was done to buildings, warehouses, railroad equipment, oil storage tanks, harbour installations, hangars, shops, stored supplies and equipment. Our own losses in this daring highly successful strike were 11 planes in combat. There was no damage to our surface ships. The total revised score for the 3rd Fleet under Admiral William F. Halsey’s command now stands at 122 ships and 16 small craft sunk, 137 ships and 109 small craft damaged, 380 planes shot down in the air and 598 destroyed on the ground. Crippling damage was done to airfields and naval establishments.

In addition, 3rd Fleet ships and car-rier-based aircraft supported the Palau assault and our own combat losses were 51 planes. The operations of the 3rd Fleet forced the enemy to withdraw forces. from former anchorages in the Philippines and seek new refuges in the same general area, disrupted his interisland communications and also have broken his air force in the Philippines, just as the operations of the sth Fleet broke the enemy carrier-based air force in the battle for the Philippine Sea. The communique reports attacks against Chichijima, Hahajima and Iwojima, Pagan Island, Nauru and the enemy-held Marshall atolls.