AIR CLASHES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22789, 13 January 1944, Page 4

AIR CLASHES

Japanese Come Off

Second Best

South-West Pacific Campaign N.Z.P.A. —Special Australian Correspondent (9.15 p.m.) SYDNEY. Jan. 12. An air battle over Rabaul (New Britain) has cost the Japanese 16 fighters. Four Allied planes were lost. Maintaining their persistent aerial sweeps over this key enemy base, our Solomons-based heavy torpedo divebombers with fighter escort were intercepted by 40 Zeros. In spite of the interception they carried out attacks on Vunakanua and Tobere aerodromes. The runways were damaged, anti-air-craft positions hit and parked planes destroyed. Installations at the Rabaul aerodromes have recently been under sustained attacks by planes of both the South-west and South Pacific Commands. General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports another air clash over Wewak (North-east New Guinea) where Allied fighter patrols encountered a force of 18 Zeros. They shot down one and probably destroyed another. Destroyer Left Burning Damage to Japanese shipping reported by the latest South-west Pacific communique includes a destroyer and a 1500-ton mechantman set on fire. The destroyer was the escort vessel with an enemy six-ship convoy attacked by a United States naval Catalina 40 miles south-west of Dyaul Island (New Ireland) on Sunday night. A direct hit amidships left the destroyer burning with its anti-aircraft guns silent. A United States Navy Catalina also registered on a merchantman, which was one of two vessels attacked at Hanas Bay (North-east New Guinea) on Sunday night. The ship was left burning and trailing a large oil slick. The heaviest Allied air strike recorded by General MacArthur’s communique was against the Japanese barge and supply base of Bogadjim, on the north coast of New Guinea. In a series of raids over two days 76 tons of bombs were dropped. Land Operations Australian troops, driving along the north New Guinea coast, are now within eight miles of Sio. Allied artillery is shelling the Japanese installations and stores at Gneisenau Point, about four miles from Sio. At Cape Gloucester (Western New Britain) where American Marines are still thrusting forward in the Borgen Bay area, two strong Japanese counterattacks were repulsed on Monday. The enemy troops continue to offer fierce resistance. Naval Bmbardment The correspondent of the Associated Press on Guadalcanal says that a task force of United States cruisers and destroyers bombarded Japanese positions on Shortland Island last Saturday night, speedily silencing light fire from several shore batteries. Several fires, including one at a fuel dump, were seen several hours later. Installations on Faisi Island were also bombed. New secret battle techniques are being developed in the Pacific, employing devices of which, it is believed, the enemy is not aware, states the correspondent of the "New York Times” at a Central Pacific naval air station. Naval authorities, he states, are of the opinion that they are impressively deadly and will tremendously affect the outcome of the duration of the Pacific war.