SOLOMONS AREA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22474, 8 January 1943, Page 5

SOLOMONS AREA

U.S. Task Forces

Active

Munda Airfield Again

Attacked

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, January 6.

A naval communique issued at Washington states: “During darkness in the early morning of Tuesday a United States task force of seven units successfully bombarded the Japanese airfield at Munda, New Georgia Island. “As the task force retired it was attacked by Japanese dive-bombers. Four Wildcat fighters shot down four enemy dive-bombers and probably destroyed two more. All the Wildcats returned safely after the remaining enemy planes had withdrawn. “Marauders and medium bombers later attacked enemy installations at Munda, but the results were not observed.

“During the afternoon Flying Fortresses, escorted by Lightning fighters, attacked an enemy heavy cruiser at Buih. The results were not observed. Our fighters were attacked by 25 Zero fighters and float-type biplanes. Three of these enemy planes were shot down and two others probably destroyed. Two of our fighters were lost. "Flying Fortresses attacked, and scored a bomb hit on, a Japanese transport in the Shortland Island area. “During the day 84 Japanese were killed in mopping-up operations in the Mount Austen sector of Guadalcanal.”