JAPANESE LOSSES

Evening Star, Issue 24293, 7 September 1942, Page 2

JAPANESE LOSSES

500 PLANES SINGE APRIL AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTE TO VALOUR (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (llec. 1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 7. While the Allied Air Force maintains its decisive superiority in New Guinea, and the Japanese land threat to Port Moresby is still held, Japanese soldiers in the Kokoda area are fighting entirely without air support. Wounded Australians just returned from this front say. however, that they are superb fighting men and must not' he under-estimated. Since the Japanese occupied Buna as a striking base against Moresby nearly eight -weeks ago they have lost at least 38 of their planes, with many more damaged, as well as two ships sunk and three damaged. They have also suffered heavy losses in men and supplies. The systematic destruction by Allied’ planes is believed to be making Buna untenable as an enemy air base. Some observers consider that the heavy destruction caused among enemy Zeros has immobilised the Japanese bomber squadrons by leaving them temporarily without fighter support. On all fronts under General MacArthur’s command since April 1, the Japanese have lost nearly 400 fighters and bombers in operations. Normal wastage is expected to have increased their losses in the period to at least 500 planes. The wounded Australians just returned from Kokoda have been more than a week on the journey to hospital. Some had to he carried by stretcher: others were able to' walk. They said fighting the Japanese was like fighting “ invisible men.” Though hampered by lack of air support, the Japanese were great jungle soldiers.