BOMBING AND STRAFING SWEEPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 85, 12 April 1943, Page 5

BOMBING AND STRAFING SWEEPS

MACARTHUR’S COMMUNIQUE Reed. 8.20 p.m. Sydney, April 1.1. The following communique issued to-day from General MacArthur’s South-west Pacific headquarters:— Timor: Our medium units successfully bombed and strafed the enemyoccupied villages of Ossu and Vioueque, causing heavy damage and starting large fires. Tenimber Islands. - Saumlaki: One of our medium units bombed the enemyoccupied village of Laoerang. Aru Islands.—Dobo: One of our medium units raided the town. North-eastern Sector New Britain.—Arawe: One of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome. New Guinea. Alexishafen Madang: Our long-range fighters al. dawn executed a low-level strafing sweep along the coast. At Alexishafen the hangars, power-house and other installations were swept with cannon and machine-gun lire. In Madaug Harbour a power barge was suk and the waterfront area thoroughly strafed, starting new fires . which were still burning three nours later, with smoke rising to 4000 feet. Large fires started at the docks in 1 he . previous day’s raid were still burning. ; Later in the day our heavy units in single attacks bombed and strafed the aerodrome. There was anti-aircraft fire but no interception. Bog:a: Shortly after daylight oui medium units executed a low-level j ; bombing and strafing attack on enemy ground installations and occupied barracks and villages in the vicinity, leaving a train of fires throughout the area. Two direct bomb hits completely destroyed a battery of live heavy machine-guns. A nearby fuel servicing unit was set ablaze and sur- ? face craft in harbour raked with 3 heavy-calibre machine-gun lire. A’ dusk one of our heavy units strafed • eight large loaded power barges in the ? harbour, heavily damaging them and ■ forcing them to be beached. 1 Wewak: At dawn our heavy bomb--1 ers attacked three times, dropping 30 1 tons of explosives on a seaplane base, aerodrome wharf and shore installa- ■ tions and shipping in the harbour. ■ .Direct hits destroyed a 1000-ton cargo ’ vessel off the jetty. Another ship Of 500 tons was seriously damaged by a 1 5001 b. bomb, scoring either a direct hit ' or a near hit. A 1500-ton vessel five miles offshore was heavily strafed and set gfire. On shore a large ammunition dump was blown up by a dirct hit, three searchlights and two antiaircraft positions put out of action and fires left burning m the town aerodrome and seaplane base. A lone enemy fighter was intercepted and was shot down in flames.