NEW GUINEA AND TIMOR

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21758, 18 June 1942, Page 3

NEW GUINEA AND TIMOR

AEROPLANES SHOT DOWN DARWIN RAIDED AGAIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tei. Copyright) SYDNEY, June 17 Attacks by Allied bombers on Japanese bases in New Guinea and Timor are announced in a communique issued from General MacArthur's headquarters this morning. The communique says heavy day and night raids were made on Japanese aerodrome installations at Lae and Salamaua, in New Guinea. Fires were started, and direct hits were scored in the target areas. On their way back, the Allied bombers and fighters shot down four Japanese planes. One Allied fighter is missing. In the raid over Timor Island, the target was the aerodrome at Koepang, and this was successfully bombed. The Japanese have again raided Darwin, but the damage was negligible. One Japanese bomber and one fighter were destroyed. We lost two planes. The Japanese sent over a large force of 27 bombers and 25 fighters. Each side lost four planes in an air battle between 18 Japanese fighters and Allied fighters over Port Moresby. Allied interceptors went into action against superior numbers and averted an attack on the Allied base. Raid on Port Moresby A heavy enemy air raid on Port Moresby on Tuesday, combined with the fourth successive day attack on Darwin, confounded premature conclusions here that Japanese air weight had been shifted from the north-east to the north-west. Japanese ability to deliver their blows in strength in both quarters has persuaded most commentators to the view emphasised previously—that the enemy retains powerful air strength throughout the South-west Pacific, and awaits only a more favourable opportunity for its employment. In their four latest raids on Darwin, the Japanese have sent over more than 160 bombers and fighters. They lost 13 planes, while the Allies have lost six. Darwin has now had 19 air raids. Again on Tuesday the damage was light. The bombs dropped were mainly anti-personnel and incendiaries. Great courage is reported to have been displayed by a subaltern and a sergeant. When a fire occurred near a machine-gun post, they ran through the flames at least three times to drag out the men who had been trapped. “ Never have so many come so far for so little,” remarked a Royal Australian Air Force officer, commenting on the latest Japanese raids on Darwin. The most serious material losses have been in the troops’ living quarters. Australia is chuckling sympathetically at the misfortunes of a middle-aged Englishman who rushed into a burning building immediately after the bombing. “ I had 70 beautiful pounds tucked away,” he said, “ but as soon as I got inside the door my ammunition caught and started popping all over the place, so I gave up.” The fighting on Tuesday was the biggest flare-up in the northern air war for many weeks. A fighter escort for our bombers attacking Lae was provided for the first time. The need for such action has long been emphasised, and has been made necessary by the high performance of the newest type of Zero employed by the Japanese.