SHOWER OF BOMBS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22992, 8 September 1944, Page 4

SHOWER OF BOMBS

Days Of Security Over Official R.N.Z.A.F. News Service BOUGAINVILLE. Sept. 5. New Zealand fighter-bombers intensified their attacks on Japanese supply bases and strongpoints at Bougainville with considerable success. The highlight of the sorties at the week-end was the bombing of troops and supply dumps at Nekaro, several miles inland from the southern coast, where the enemy was living in huts and underground shelters. Although smaller targets in the vicinity were previously bombed, this large operational base was located only a few days ago. Here a strong concentration of the enemy who landed at the southern end of Bougainville nearly two years ago had been living in immunity from Allied attack, hidden I by the natural cover of the jungle and the clever use of camouflage. A shower of 5001 b high explosive bombs early on Sunday morning told the Japanese that their days of security and comfortable living were over. An order was issued to wipe the enemy out, and the New Zealanders are wasting no time on the job. In their first assault the Corsairs plastered the whole target area, starting two large fires. The full score of the damage has not yet been assessed, but it is believed that the enemy suffered considerable loss from bombs, explosions and fires. Another successful mission by NewZealand Corsairs was the demolition of three main bridges on the enemy 's principal supply route between Kahili and Tonelei Harbour, along the southern coast, which the Japanese still firmlv hold. The destruction of the bridges is likely seriously to affect the enemy's ability to maintain effective opposition to the Allied beachhead, as considerable traffic along the coastal supply route is now halted. «On all these missions the New Zealanders encountered light automatic anti-aircraft fire, but suffered no damage. Confirmed results of recent sorties give the New Zealand Corsair pilots I a score of 112 Japanese killed, 39 buildj ings destroyed, five bridges demolished ' and 15 trucks wrecked. These figures I exclude raids carried out at the previous week-end.