MUKDEN RAIDED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23083, 23 December 1944, Page 5

MUKDEN RAIDED

Aeroplane Factory Hit (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. A substantial force of SuperFortresses from Major-General Curtis Lemay’s 20th Bomber Command attacked the Manchuria Aeroplane Company’s factory at Mukden shortly before noon to-day, says a communique. The target was bombed visually and good results were reported. The weather was cleai- but haze and smoke partly obscured the results. Flak was meagre and air opposition moderate to strong. Fifteen enemy planes were destroyed, seven probably destroyed, and 11 damaged. Two Super-Fortresses were lost owing to enemy action. The Tokio radio announced that British carrier-based planes raided Sabang on Thursday night. The radio also reported that three SuperFortresses flew over Honshu last night and early to-day. No damage was caused. The radio also said that 55 American soldiers interned at Mukden were killed or wounded in a SuperFortress raid on December 7. Major-General McClure, United States Chief of Staff, China theatre, said that American airmen would bomb every Japanese-held port in China with the maximum tonnage and the greatest number of planes obtainable. It was hoped to continue combined Super-Fortress composite raids such as asrainst Hankow. Major-General McClure said that General Cheng had given the Americans support in the struggle to provide adequate food for the Chinese troops at the front. One reason for the fine showing of the Chinese troops in Burma was the simple fact that they had enough to eM.