JAPANESE LOSSES

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22136, 7 September 1943, Page 3

JAPANESE LOSSES

21 PLANES SHOT DOWN (United Eress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) ■ SYDNEY, Sept. 6

Allied air forces have won another victory over New Guinea. Near Morobe, on the coast about 70 miles south of Salamaua, our fighters swooped on a formation of medium and dive bombers escorted by 35 Zeros. In a fierce battle 21 enemy planes were shot down, including 16 fighters. We lost two planes.

The main enemy base of Rabaul, New Britain, was subjected to a fourhour night attack by Allied medium bombers, causing fires and explosions at Vunakanau and Lakunai aerodromes. Anti-aircraft positions at Rataval were bombed and silenced. Medium bombers made two daylight raids on Gasmata, on the southern coast. One bomber was shot down by ground fire. At Cape Gloucester, on the western tip of New Britain, medium bombers with fighter escort bombed and heavily strafed anti-aircraft positions, supply dumps and bivouac areas around the aerodrome, causing fires. Beaufighters in a coastal sweep of Western New Britain destroyed or damaged 32 barges. Off Cape St. George, New Ireland, Zi night reconnaissance plane bombed and strafed a 2000-ton cargo ship, starting fires at the bow and stem. Kahili aerodrome on Bougainville Island, Central Solomons, was again a target for bombers, which destroyed four grounded planes.