ALLIED INITIATIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1942, Page 3

ALLIED INITIATIVE

IN NEW GUINEA AREA. NUMEROUS RAIDS ON ENEMY BASES. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 12. Only one heavy bombing raid, against Port Moresby on June 1, has been made by the Japanese in the South-West Pacific area since May 18. In the same period, Allied aircraft have made 60 raids, some of them in considerable force, on widely distributed enemy-occupied bases. It is suggested that waterlogged aerodromes and bomb-damaged runways are important factors contributing to the Japanese inactivity. Enemy aerodromes have figured largely among Allied targets. Of the 60 Allied raids made since May 18, a total of 19 have been against Rabaul, and 13 against Lae, the main enemy bases for the thrust on Port Moresby. Three raids have been made against Salamaua. In the north-western sector, five

raids have been made against Koepang, two against Atamboea, two against Ermera, three against Dilli, and two against Amboina. In the Japanese-occupied Solomons group, Tulagi has been raided four times, Bouganville twice, and Kessa once. Raids have also been made against the Louisaide Islands. The latest Allied headquarters communique reports the destruction of an enemy four-engined flying-boat. The Japanese have been employing two types of flying-boat, the Mitsubishi 96 and the more modern Kawanisi 97, which is a military version of the type of flying-boat employed by them on the Palau-Dilli commercial route before the war. It has a range of 2000 miles. The Mitsubishi is an obsolete biplane with a range of only 1000 miles, but possessing strong armament protection.

ATTACK ON RABAUL ENEMY FIGHTER SHOT DOWN. MELBOURNE, June 11. • Allied activity over enemy-occupied New Guinea continues. Today’s headquarters communique says: “Four Zeros attempted to intercept one of our reconnaissance units in New Guinea. One enemy was shot down. Allied aircraft attacked an aerodrome at Rabaul, starting fires in the building area.” The Australian Air Minister, Mr Drakeford ,announced that experienced Australian pilots had returned from overseas and had been posted to key points in Australia. Their return boded ill for the Japanese, as they were grimly determined to shoot the invader from the skies, to sink his ships and blast his bases.