26 Planes Shot Down; Others Destroyed on Ground

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 60, 14 March 1944, Page 5

26 Planes Shot Down; Others Destroyed on Ground

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Monday, 10.50 p.m. SYDNEY, March 13. The Japanese suffered a sharp air reverse when they attempted to savo their base at Wewak (New Guinea) from a heavy battering on Saturday. Of 40 intercepting enemy fighters 26 were shot down with six others probably destroyed. More enemy aircraft were smashed on the ground. Only two of the attacking Allied planes failed to return but others damaged. Three days earlier the Japanese lost 17 planes with 10 others probably destroyed in « similar clash over Wewak. The relentless pounding of Wewak on the Rabaul pattern is driving the main Japanese air concentrations in New Guinea back to Hollandia. Some war commentators suggest that the enemy may he planning to fight a delaying action at Wewak while their strength at Hollandia is further developed Hollandia has been an important staging base for Japanese aircraft flying from the home islands to the Southwest Pacific theatre. A number of heavy night raids have been made on Hollandia recently by Allied aircraft. Saturday’s attack on Wewak was directed mainly against Borum airfield where 120 tons of hombs were dropped. Fires and terrific explosions caused widespread destruction. Rabaul (New Britain) had its customary pounding during the week-end. being hit with a further 91 tons of bombs. The targets were the township, airfield and waterfront. Three small craft were sunk. There was no air interception. Other objectives attacked by General MacArthur’s bombers on Saturday included Lorengau (Admiralty Islands), Kavieng (New Ireland), Gasmata and Cape Hoskins (New Britain), and Madang (New Guinea). Two Japanese troop-laden barges were sunk off the North New Britain coast by our air patrols.