BURMA FRONT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 5

BURMA FRONT

Heavy Air Activity (Rec. 7,30.) LONDON, Jan. 2. A joint Indian war communique states: “Yesterday afternoon a formation of Royal Air Force Blenheims bombed the Japanese-occupied village of Kalemyo, in Myittha Valley. Bursts were seen well In the centre of the target area, and fires were left burning. Elsewhere In Burma our fighters attacked enemy river craft with cannon fire, and Hudsons bombed and machine-gunned shipping off the Arakan coast. From these and other operations one of our aircraft is missing.’’ The United States air force bombed Japanese troops and supply concentrations at Mengmao on the border of Burma and Yunnan province. Airmen said the Japanese base was virtually blasted off the map. Two Zeros were shot down and another damaged. December was the first month in which the Royal Air Force, operating from Indian bases, averaged at least one attack against the Japanese in Burma every 24 hours. Last month Royal Air Force planes were out on 20 days and 10 nights, during the course of which 41 different offensive operations were carried out. Since the middle of December the succession of drily Royal Air Force attacks has been unbroken. The chief objectives were aerodromes. particularly the enemy's large forward base at Magwc.