HEAVY BOMBING OF ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 19, 17 October 1942, Page 7

HEAVY BOMBING OF ENEMY

How Battle Opened

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 15. "Dispatches from our forces in the South Pacific reveal the following chronological developments leading up to the current battle in the Guadalcanal area,” says a United States Navy Department communique. ‘‘On Monday morning army Flying Fortresses bombed the airfield and shore establishments on Buka Island. Fires were started and 10 wrecked bombers and lighters were observed on the ground. “Army bombers hit and set fire to one cargo ship at Buin Island and damaged another. Six enemy lighters were shot down. "Navy and Marine Corps aircraft attacked enemy ships south of New Georgia Island. On Tuesday afternoon the airfield on Guadalcanal was twice bombed by the enemy. Three enemy planes were shot down and one of our fighters was lost. “By nightfall United States auxiliaries had landed reinforcements for our troops on Guadalcanal. Though the ships were attacked by enemy bombers no damage was suffered by our ships, which unloaded and withdrew. "During Tuesday night the airfield and shore installations on Guadalcanal were heavily bombarded by an enemy surface force, believed to contain battleships, cruisers, and destroyers._;ShoreJbatteries_scoTcd. three

hits on enemy destroyers during the bombardment.

Heavy Raid on Airfield. “Yesterday afternoon Guadalcanal airfield was attacked by two separate groups of enemy bombers, each with a fighter escort. Our fighters were unable to intercept the first flight, which contained about 25 aircraft. “During the second attack we slrot down nine of 15 bombers and also destroyed four fighters. We lost one fighter. 'Early this morning enemy transports, escorted by destroyers, cruisers, and one battleship, were sighted off Savo Island. The force proceeded to land troops on the north coast of Guadalcanal west of our airfield. An aircraft striking group attacked the enemy ships, making three direct hits on one transport, while two other transports were left burning, the Japanese battleship was damaged, and one enemy fighter destroyed. “Other enemy forces, including heavy units, have been sighted in the vicinity of Guadalcanal.” A later announcement reports an enemy air raid on American positions on Guardalcanal today.