WEWAK BOMBED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 206, 1 September 1943, Page 5

WEWAK BOMBED

JAP PLANES SMASHED BIG AIR BATTLE OVER NEW GUINEA (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Recd. 11.35 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 31. Wewak, on the north New Guinea coast, had another heavy pounding from General MacArthur’s bombers. Enemy aircraft concentrations in the area have again been smashed, 37 being destroyed on the ground or in the a:r, 12 probably destroyed an:l 17 damaged.

A series o£ attacks last week saw the destruction of more than 300 Japanese planes in this area. Wewak ranks next to Rabaul, New Britain, as the most important enemy base in the South-west Pacific theatre. One of the biggest air battles of the New Guinea campaign marked the newest Allied raid on Wewak. Less than 60 enemy fighters intercepted the attacking force but they received a rough handling from our escorting fighters, the great majority of them being either shot down or so seriously damaged that they were unable to continue the combat.

Details of the engagement are given in General MacArthur's latest communique, which says: “Our escorted heavy bombers in force attacked aerodromes at Wewak and Boram, placing 114 tons of explosives on aircraft, revetment and dispersal areas. At least 12 planes caught on the ground were destroyed. Many fires and explosions occurred in both target areas. Interception by at least 60 fighters resulted in a fierce air combat in which the enemy was badly defeated, 25 of his planes being destroyed. another 12 probably destroyed and 17 damaged. Our losses were light” General MacArthur's communique to-day reports other heavy Allied air blows on New Guinea objectives. About 188 miles east of Wewak the important enemy supply base of Madang took a solid hammering when escorted medium bombers dropped 55 tons of bombs on the Alexishafen and Bogadjim areas. Detailing the results of- these attacks the communique says:—“A group of 15 barges at Admosin Island was hit and many were destroyed. Six barges at Bostram Bay were sunk, and buildings on Sek Island were heavily damaged. Many fires were started in fufl and supply dumps at the Alexishafen airfield. Amron Mission and Bogadjim. There was no interception.”

Further disrupting the passage of enemy supplies in the New Britain— New Guinea sector, our attack planes

and fighters made a sweep along the south coast of New Britain, bombing jetty and dump areas at Gasmata ano destroying two barges at Cape Deechey. A Catalina on night patrol near Cape St. George, at the southern extremity of New Ireland, scored a direct hit with a 5001 b. bomb on a Japanese cruiser. In Vitiaz Strait, between New Britain and New Guinea, a small enemy cargo ship was attacked and damaged.

In land fighting at Salamaua Japanese counter-attacks against Australian forces on Kila Ridge have been repulsed with heavy enemy losses.

Allied aircraft have been active, too, in more remote parts of the Southwest Pacific area. Admiral Halsey’s fighters strafed Kahili aerodrome, Bougainville Island, destroying eight enemy planes on the ground. Other Allied fighters attacking Vila River mouth, Kolombangara Island, destroyed three Japanese barges. While four others were destroyed in attacks on Santa Ysabel Island. More than 17 tons of explosives were dropped in a raid on Babo, Dutch New Guinea, causing extensive damage to buildings and starting fires among fuel and supply dumps. One enemy plane was destroyed on the ground.