CHASED FROM AIR

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 232, 28 June 1944, Page 6

CHASED FROM AIR

Japanese In Western Dutch New Guinea LOSSES NOT REPLACED (By telegraph.— Press Assn.- Copyright-’ (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received June 27, 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 2.. Air defence of their bases in western Dutch New Guinea has been practically abandoned by the Japanese. lhe enemy has made no attempts to replace his recent aircraft losses on this sector. His major air bases of Manokwari. on the western tip of Geelvink Bay. and Babo. on MeCluer Gulf, ate now deserted of planes. Only a s ™all number of aircraft remains at Sordfig, on the western extremity of the island. S'orong was the enemy s third large an base in the area. It is believed that the Japanese are conserving aircraft replacements for the defence of threatened vital bases beyond New Guinea, in the earlier'South-west Pacific campaigns, the Japanese poured in aircraft replacements. regardless ot heavy losses, till their bases became untenable even by ground forces. Nr a time they looked likely to dispute Allied air supremacy over western Dutch New Guinea, but the destruction of M planes at Sorong on June 16 ended their eftorts. Since then, reconnaissance has shown few machines on enemy airstrips in the territory, while Genera! MacArthur s bombers and fighters have been operating in increasing numbers from newly-captured fields at Hollandia, Wakde Island and Biak Island. New Air Organization. Au observation by the official spokesman at South-west Pacific headquarters today that “the Japanese have been chased out of the air in western Dutch New Guinea.” coincides with an announcement that a nfew Allied air armj to be known as the Far East Air forces has been established, with headquarters in Australia. The new organization embracing the veteran lifth and loth Air Forces, will be .commanded by Lieutenant-General George Kennedy, w ho has been commanding the South-west Pacific Allied air forces since August, 1942. Major-General Ennis M bitehead will command the Fifth Air b orce, and the commander of the 13th Air 1’ orce is .Major-General St. Clair Streett, who previously commanded the Second Air 1 orce in the United States. Under, the new plan, the status of the R.A.A.F. and the Netherlands Air Force based in this area will be unchanged. A further 475 Japanese hate been killed in recent fighting at Mafhn Baj. on the northern coast of Dutch New Guinea, where enemy troops still cling stubbornly to two airfields. Japanese losses in the Wakde-Sarmi area which includes Maffin Bay, now total 2386. Australian troops who are driving up tile northern New Guinea coast hate obtained a rich haul of stores and equipment abandoned by the Japanese. Valued at tens of thousands of pounds, the items include 200 motor-trucks, four staff cars, six power-driven rollers. 400 . motortvres, a number of aircraft cameras, anti-aircraft guns and quantities of ammunition.