AIRFIELDS TAKEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 4

AIRFIELDS TAKEN

American Success On Biak Island

FANATICAL JAPANESE By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received June 21. 11.30 p.m.‘ . SYDNEY, June 21.

After smashing powerful Japanese defences on dominating ridges, the American invasion forces have captured the laste two enemy-held airfields on Biak Island, in Dutch New Guinea. All three airfields on Biak are now in American hands. The Japanese garrison lost heavily in their fierce defence of the Borokoaand Soriclo fields, which were finally taken at 11 o’clock yesterday morning. Enemy troops on Biak have displayed all the fanaticism which characterized Japanese resistance in the earlier New Guinea campaigns, and have fought to the death, only a few prisoners having been taken. Allied use of the Biak airfields will make an important contribution to the crushing of the remaining Japanese strongpoints in western Dutch. New Guinea, as well as in an extension of General MacArthur’s aerial offensive to more distant enemy bases in the Netherlands East Indies and toward the Philippines. Near Biak Island, at the western Up of Geelvink Bay, Boston attack bombers striking at Manokwari harbour sank a 1000-ton freighter, a coastal vessel and four barges One Boston was lost. In British New Guinea, coastal positions of the beleaguered remnants of the Japanese 18th Army on the WewakAitape sector are still being attacked by bombers and strafing pianes. Naval units at night bombarded enemy gun positions at Wewak. In six days. General MacArthurs Liberators supporting the American land, sea and air operations in the Mariannes have pounded the enemy base of Truk in the Carolines with 450 tons of explosives. In their latest raid, the bombers encountered neither Japanese fighters nor antiaircraft fire. In previous raidij. strong enemy fighter opposition has been met.

OUTSTANDING RECORD Allied Liberator Unit (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received June 21, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 21.. A Liberator bomber unit stationed in north-west Australia has destroyed 82,000 .tons of Japanese shipping and at least *156 enemy planes in the past year. Manned by American and Australian crews, the Liberators have ranged as far as Balikpapan, in Borneo, in flights taking up to 17 hours. In the year, they have flown more than 3,000.000 combat miles and have dropped 3125 tons of bombs. Their combat hours total 20,000. April was their most successful month. In 200 soijties, the Liberators in that month destroyed 57 enemy aircraft. Of these. 27 were shot down in dogfights.