JAPANESE BASES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23082, 22 December 1944, Page 6

JAPANESE BASES

Allies Intensifying Their Attacks Targets Heavily Battered Official R.N.Z.A.F. News Service SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC. Dec. 19. The Allies have intensified their attacks on important Japanese bases in the Solomons-Bismarcks area, and strong forces of fighters and medium bombers in the last few days have given the enemy little respite. Kavieng, at the northern tip of New Ireland and Rabaul, have been the principal targets of these raids, and both have been subjected to a heavy battering. Formations of R.N.Z.A.F. and United States Corsairs with American medium-bombers took part in the strike against Rabaul, when 10001 b bombs were dropped on the enemy’s supply areas. While fighters concentrated on targets around Rabaul. formations of Mitchels bombarded Matupi Island. Although the results were sometimes difficult to observe because of the nature of the country, all the bombs were seen to fall on the target areas. Kavieng also was raided by R.N.Z.A.F. Corsairs, which flew over two enemy airfields there and plantations south of the town, dropping 5001 b bombs. Several huts were either destroyed or damaged and the pilots came down low' over populated areas in strafing attacks. Ack-ack of medium intensity was encountered in some areas, but the Japanese fire was not very accurate. A burst of 20 mm. fire struck one Corsair piloted by Pilot Officer R. B. Johnston, of Dunedin, and the aircraft arrived back at base with a large hole in the fuselage. In a dawn sweep by R.N.Z.A.F. Venturas over New Ireland, Flying Officer W. R. Wilby, of Palmerston North, flew over what appeared to be a Japanese encampment near the beach north-west of Lamara Point. His gunners strafed the area and were surprised when an explosion shook the aircraft and a dense column of white smoke billowed high into the air and around the aircraft. The pilot turned back and bombed the target. Smoke was still coming from the area when the Ventura left. Although confirmation was not possible it is thought that the strafing fired a small ammunition dump.