SWIFTER TEMPO

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 125, 29 May 1942, Page 5

SWIFTER TEMPO

NEW GUINEA RAIDS

Jap. Attacks Increase But

Damage Trivial

special Australian Correspondent.

SYDNEY, May 28. ™ T o e i ei VP° °f Japanese air attacks ?u , Moresby is increasing, hut the damage inflicted remains trivial The third successive Japanese nicht raid was made on Wednesday followed a daylight strafing attack on the aerodrome by a force of 15 Zeros.

Interception by our fighters resulted in one Zero being destroyed while six are claimed to have been damaged. We lost one fighter No mention is made of any offensive action by Allied aircraft in the Southwest Pacific area.

The first enemy night attack on Port Moresby was made on May 5. Then night raids were abandoned until this week. Meanwhile the enemy has made 50 daylight attacks on the port.

Since General Mac Arthur took command of the South-west Pacific zone less than six weeks ago, almost 100 Japanese aircraft have been destroyed and an additional 100 damaged or probably destroyed. The figures are taken from 41 communiques issued from Allied headquarters since April 21. A heavy toll has also been taken of enemy warships and transports.

No assessment can be given of Allied losses during the period, since the destruction of our aircraft is not always reported by communiques, and our shipping losses in the Coral Sea Battle have not yet been revealed.

It is claimed in communiques that 188 Japanese aircraft have been destroyed or damaged. Of these 85 are Zero fighters, 63 of which were shot down and 22 damaged. Thirtyfive bombers are also claimed to have been destroyed and 16 damaged. Five flying-boats and eight seaplanes have been destroyed or damaged. Eleven planes of unspecified types have been destroyed and 28 damaged. In addition, several communiques have reported the dropping of bombs among groups of dispersed enemy planes. Enemy naval units claimed to have been lost or damaged in the same period, including the Coral Sea Battle, are as follows:— Sunk. —One large cruiser, two destroyers, four gunboats, a supply vessel, an aircraft-carrier, a heavy cruiser, an Bin Ivako class cruiser, two transports, two merchant vessels. Damaged.—One aircraft-carrier, a heavy cruiser, a light cruiser, three tankers, nine transports, four other vessels. Sunk or Damaged.—Two submarines. These successes were gained by Allied naval, air and submarine attacks.