HEAVY TOLL

Evening Star, Issue 24282, 25 August 1942, Page 3

HEAVY TOLL

GLOW TO JAP. RAIDERS 13 DESTROYED OVER DARWIN SYDNEY, August 24. Thirteen Japanese planus were shot down yesterday at Darwin, To-day s Allied Headquarters communique reveals that the enemy attacked an aerodrome with ‘27 heavy bombers, escorted by 20 Zezo fighters. Four bombers and nine fighters were destroyed in a brilliant interception by Allied fighters, who suffered no loss. Only slight damage was done to the aerodrome. Dogfights took place at 25,000 ft. Allied Kittyhawks attacked the enemy bombers on the way in, destroying three and breaking up the formation. The Japanese bombs fell in tho bush. On the way out the bombers again met tho Kittyhawks. Eight Zeros and one bomber were shot down. On offensive reconnaissance an Allied air unit bombed enemy buildings and a wharf area in Buka Passage, Northern Solomons. The results were not observed.

HIGH COST TO ENEMY

LOSSES IN DARWIN RAIDS (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, August 24. A total of 29 raids on Darwin, beginning on February 19, has cost the enemy 73 planes. These aircraft comprised 40 Zero fighters, 32 bombers, ana one other type. In spite of the enemy s advantage in manoeuvring and ceiling, experienced Kittyhawk pilots have evidently perfected tho technique for dealing with tho high-flying Japanese Zero. Sunday’s laid followed a 24-day lull. Darwin was last attacked on July 30 by 27 heavy bombers and 22 fighters. On that occasion the Darwin fighter force shot down nine of the enemy for the loss of one Allied plane. The latest raid occurred before noon, and was anticipated by Darwin’s defenders. Our fighters intercepted the enemy over the sea as they approached from the west. Ju the first sudden, attack three bombers were seen to leave tho formation and jettison their bombs, and it was obvious that they

would he unable to reach their base. Watchers on land could also see Zeros spiraelling down, trailing smoke as they fell. The remaining 24 bombers drove on to the target area, but a war correspondent describes their attack as “ more panic bombing than pattern bombing.” Some bush fires were started by incendiaries and high explosives, but the service damage was negligible. The Allied patrols used oxygen in the rarifiod atmosphere in which the fighting occurred. The Japanese were evidently determined to make full use of their superior ceiling, but the defenders caught them napping. An American pilot states that he saw a Japanese airman bale out of his machine, an unprecedented happening over enemy territory. When he flew past the parachute, however, there was no one in it. In the raids on Darwin the enemy has employed 335 heavy bombers. 54 dive-bombers, and 179 lighters. Thus their losses average about 12 per cent, of the attacking forces. The weight of the bombs dropped in the area is estimated to exceed 700,0001 b. The service casualties are described as “ ridiculously few.” The damage to service installations has not silenced a single battery, or gunpost, put any part of the communications system out of action, or prevented any aerodrome from operating. The damage to civilian property has been estimated at £26,000. In dogfights with the Japanese only 17 Kittyhawks of the Darwin fighter force have been lost.

From this area many bombing attacks have been made on enemy-occupied territory, and the fact that an aerodrome was the target in Sunday’s raid is significant. After the long lull it was generally felt that Darwin was overdue for a raid by the Japanese, who arrived, according to local prophets, a day later than expected.

OFFENSIVE SPIRIT GROWS

im HALIFAX ON SECOND FRONT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, August 24. Lord Halifax conferred with Mr Cordell Hull for 1)0 minutes to-day, states a Washington message. Lord Halifax, who returned to America on Saturday from London, said the British were looking forward to further offensive action against the Axis. Ho added that he found much second front talk in Britain, and that talk represented the growth of the offensive spirit everywhere. With it there was sensible recognition of the fact that the technical staffs were the best judges of how, when, and where.

AIR RAID CASUALTIES

CVER 1,000 KILLED IN AUSTRALIA (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 1.20 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 24. At least 1,000 people have been killed on the Australian mainland through air raids since the outbreak of the .Japanese war, according to Mr E. J. Hollowat, Minister of Health, speaking in Melbourne to-day.