MANY SHIPS HIT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 5

MANY SHIPS HIT

Allied Bomb Havoc At Rabaul WIDE JAPANESE AIR RAIDS

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

(Special Australian Correspondent.)

(Received January 24, 9.30 p.m.)

SYDNEY, January 24

The Japanese shipping concentration in Rabaul harbour has again taken crippling blows from General MacArthur’s bombers. Four more merchantman, aggregating 24,000 tons, were sunk by Flying Fortresses and Liberators in a dawn raid on Friday, and in attacks yesterday at least two ships, totalling 20,000 tons, were seriously damaged. It is likely that much more substantial damage was done in the second day’s raids, when searchlight glare prevented observation. Our planes have now destroyed or crippled more than 30 ships at Rabaul since the present series of devastating attacks began on December 27.

In Friday’s attacks our airmen dived through ferocious anti-aircraft fire to within 150 feet of their targets. Two 8000-ton ships exploded after being set ablaze by direct hits, and two 4000-ton* ships sank within a few minutes of being hit. Many Near*Misses.

All the planes came safely home. Before dawn yesterday our heavy bombers were again over Rabaul. Shipping in the harbour and an approaching convoy were attacked, but the results could not be observed. Our bombers then raided the nearby Vunakanua aerodrome, where fires which were started in fuel dumps were visible 75 miles away. Bombs also fell in an aircraft dispersal area. Later yesterday morning a 1* lying Fortress on offensive reconnaissance over Rabaul scored a direct hit and five nearmisses against a 12,000-ton merchantman. Two more nenr-misses against an oouuton merchantman north of Rabaul brought the ship to a standstill. Twelve Zeros intercepted our bomber, and in a running fight lastipg more than an hour five of the Zeros were destroyed and two more damaged. The Fortress returned safely to its base.

In releasing the news of, this destruction of enemy shipping, General MacArthur’s headquarters gave graphic details of the amazing weather vagaries with which the Allied bomber crews have to contend to maintain their attacks on the key base of Rabaul. Our planes have had to fly through snow storms at a high altitude, and heavy ice has formed on their wings. Terrific thunderstorms and heavy cumulus, cloud have also been experienced. Another Fierce Fight.

The air war throughout the area of the South-West Pacific Command gives no sign of slackening, and the Japanese Air Force has become increasingly active. Eight Zeros were shot down and four others were damaged in the air battles on Friday and yesterday. Rabaul was only one of a dozen targets which were attacked by our bombers. Six raids were made by Japanese aircraft —the greatest number for some months. The growing enemy air base at WewaK, in the north of New Guinea, was the starting point for an epie air battle. A single Allied heavy bomber was attacked by 18 Zeros, and in a running fight which lasted 90 minutes three Zeros were shot down and two others were probably destroyed. Our plane got safely back. The targets attacked by the Japanese aircraft, include Darwin, Meraukc, Milne Bav and Port Moresby; Eight aircraft made a night raid on Milne Bay. causing slight casualties and damage. A heavier force than usual also raided Port Moresby. The other enemy attacks were ineffectual. , , , North of Australia our bombers have attacked Fuiloro and Koepang. in Timor, where Tokio radio reports unrest to have grown to such an extent that safety zones have hnd to be established for the protection of neutral Portuguese nationals against native uprisings. Australia’ l reports state that these native disturbances have been fomented by the Japanese, who admit that the establishment of the new zones may assist Io clear out the Australian and Dutch guerrilla troops who are still active on the island.