72 PLANES DESTROYED : 80 DAMAGED

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22658, 11 July 1945, Page 3

72 PLANES DESTROYED : 80 DAMAGED

WEAK REPLY TO AMERICAN AIR ATTACK BOMBER RAIDS LAST NINE HOURS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, July 10 American carrier-based aircraft have gained complete mastery of the skies over Tokyo, says a statement by Admiral Nimitz. In the attacks on the Japanese capital yesterday they destroyed 72 enemy aircraft on the ground and damaged 80. Two enemy reconnaissance planes were shot down near the American task force but no attack was made on the warships. Over Tokyo there was no serious challenge in the air. Reports from Guam say the task force is still in Japanese waters and that bombers and other aircraft are still busy. Japanese broadcasts say the Allies are continuing to attack the east coast of Honshu, on 'which Tokyo is situated. A communique from Japanese Imperial headquarters says that yesterday’s great raids on the Japanese homeland continued for nine hours, with wave after wave of aircraft shuttling back and forth from forces located in Japanese home waters. Super-Fortresses are continuing attacks on Osaka and neighbourhood today, and Liberators are hammering targets on Kyushu.

In the greatest single day’s air assault of the Pacific war, virtually all the land-based air forces in the Western Pacific collaborated in preparing the way for a surprise dawn attack against_ Tokyo. Nearly 2000 American planes ranging from Super-Fortresses to carrier planes, piled destruction on the Japanese homeland. Admiral Nimilz’s communique from Guam says that a strong force of aircraft from carriers of the United States Pacific Fleet attacked enemy installations in the Tokyo area. Complete surprise was effected. The forces engaged comprised part of the Third Fleet. The operations were under the command of Admiral Halsey and the first carrier task force under the command of Vice-Admiral J. S. McCain.

More than 1000 naval aircraft were involved. Among the ships taking part were the carriers Lexington, Essex, Independence and San Jacinto; the battleships Indiana, Massachussetls, South Dakota and Iowa; the cruisers Chicago, San Juan, Springfield and Atlanta.