GREAT AIR BATTLE OVER LAE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22476, 11 January 1943, Page 5

GREAT AIR BATTLE OVER LAE

Enemy Loses More Than

100 Planes

Six Transports Destroyed

N.Z.P.A.—Special Australian Correspondent (Received 9.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 10.

THE HEAVIEST air battle ever fought in the South-west Pacific has raged above the battered convoy at Lae. In three days and nights of incessant fighting the enemy lost 77 planes destroyed, 28 probably destroyed and 20 damaged in a smashing air defeat. At least 16 more Japanese aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Lae aerodrome or in the air over other South-west Pacific areas during the same period. General MacArthur’s communique says that these losses are serious for the enemy.

Saturday’s communique described the Allied air losses as “not heavy.”

Five and possibly all six of the Japanese transports which finally comprised the full convoy were destroyed and a heavy toll taken of enemy troops and material landed on the beach at Lae. The size of the force which reached the shore is not known, but it is described in Saturday’s communique as fragmentary.

In the third day of the Allied air attack the convoy was joined in Lae harbour by two more merchantmen. When sighted first on Wednesday afternoon about 40 miles south of Gasmata, New Britain, the convoy numbered 10 ships—four merchantmen with six escorting warships. Its remnants withdrew from Lae during the hours of darkness late on Friday night or early on Saturday morning. The damage done to enemy shipping in each of the attacks was:—

First 24 hours: Two large transports sunk and a direct hit on another transport.

Second 24 hours: One transport sunk and two direct hits on another transport.

Third 24 hours ended noon on Saturday: Six direct hits on a merchantman which was destroyed by fire, three direct hits on a second merchantman, and a direct hit on a third, a beached merchantman.

It is probable that the vessels not claimed as destroyed may have been hit on separate days, but it is clear that an aggregate of five merchantmen were destroyed, while it is likely that the sixth, which made up the full convoy, was also seriously damaged. No claims are macs of damage to Japanese warships, the Allied air attacks apparently having been directed exclusively against the merchantmen. This is thought to Indicate that the warships did not carry personnel, but were reserved solely for protective duties. The four transports which comprised the original convoy are estimated to have carried 6500 men. It is not known whether the two vessels which followed the convoy into Lae harbour on the third day carried troops or merely supplies. Heavy casualties were inflicted on enemy personnel by strafing attacks on ships, barges and the beach-head landing area. Numerous fires were started among landed supplies.

All the available Allied resources were thrown into the great air battle. The bombers employed Included Fortresses, Liberators, Mitchells, Marauders, Havocs, Beauforts and Hudsons, whole fighter protection was provided by Beaufighters, Kittyhawks and Lockheed Lightnings. In one spectacular clash seven Lightnings escorting our bombers were attacked by 20 Zeros. The Lightnings shot down four Zeros, probably three others, and damaged five, thus putting 12 of the 20 enemy planes out of action.

The first day of the air battle saw 18 Zeros shot down, five probably destroyed and four damaged. On the second day 20 Zeros were destroyed, seven probably destroyed and 15 damaged. On the third and final day 39 enemy fighters were destroyed and 17 probably destroyed. In addition at least six more Zeros and three Japanese bombers were destroyed on the ground at Lae aerodrome, while two of our heavy bombers returning from the Rabaul raid shot down seven of 16 attacking Zeros and dispersed the remainder.

The mounting fury of the air battle is further Indicated by the fact that on the first day only 54 Zeros were in the air, while on the second day the number was 102. The first day saw 10 Allied attacks on the convoy, 12 being made the second day. This number again Increased in the final phase of the smashing air victory. While our great air effort was directed against the Japanese convoy attacks were also made on enemy aerodromes at Madang and Gasmata in order to neutralise air support from these bases. Targets were also raided on Timor and Kei Islands, where an enemy torpedo-boat was destroyed. In Papua the Allied land forces which have enveloped the enemy remnant at Sanananda are increasing

their pressure. Our patrols on Friday killed 32 Japanese. War correspondents point out once the reduction of the Sanananda strongpoint has secured the Buna position for the Allies, a large-scale transport organisation will be necessary to maintain even a defensive garrison there. Many airfields which haye served their purpose under the pressure of necessity require considerable work to keep them serviceable for routine needs.

A message received on Saturday stated that the big Japanese convoy bringing reinforcements to Lae had arrived in ' port, and troops had been landed. Before the convoy arrived, a third transport was sunk, and a fourth damaged. General MacArthur’s communique states that it is believed that small numbers of Japanese got ashore from the remaining transports. The belief that the Japanese must make a serious attempt against Australia and that for such a purpose they are building up great supply depots north of Australia was expressed by the Minister of External Affairs, Dr Evatt, broadcasting to-night. Dr Evatt said that Australia to-day was prepared to a degree that would have been regarded as impossible a year ago. The Curtin Government had always asserted that not only the interests of Australia but the interests of all the United Nations demanded that very substantial allocations of certain equipment should be brought to the Pacific and the flow should be continued in ever-increasing quantities. It was necessary to add that but for the supplies Australia had already received from abroad she might have gone under. In some respects the aid received had been magnificent. It had come not only from America but from Britain. Amorg the points made by Dr Evatt were that five-sevenths of - Australia’s industrial workers ra now engaged in direct war work, and of the male population between 14 and 65 years of age 60 per cent, were engaged in full time war work, including members of the fighting services. In the last year government munition factories and annexes had increased more than 100 per cent. The employment of women in direct war work in factories had also increased a hundredfold since the war began. The Navy Department, Washington, states: “On Thursday Liberator heavy bombers bombed enemy positions at Kiska. The results were not observed During the morning Flying Fortresses bombed enemy areas at Bougainville Island. Twelve Zeros intercepted and two were shot down. No United States planes were lost. Marauders, with an Airacobra escort, attacked installations at Reketa Bay and Santa Isabel Fires were started and two enemy float planes were damaged. Two United States planes were sho; down by anti-aircraft fire.”