NIGHT BOMBING RAIDS ON JAPANESE FLEET

Southland Times, Issue 24890, 2 November 1942, Page 5

NIGHT BOMBING RAIDS ON JAPANESE FLEET

HEAVY CRUISER BLOWS UP IN BUIN-FAISI AREA (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 1. Smashing night bombing raids on Japanese Fleet concentrations in the Buin-Faisi area, in the Northern Solomons, and in Rabaul harbour, New Britain, have again been made by Australia-based aircraft. It is stated that although part of the Japanese Fleet has retired from the Solomons considerable enemy war shipping strength remains in the Faisi-Buin and Rabaul areas. Other enemy vessels are believed to have returned north to the main Japanese base at Truk, in the Carolines. The chief destruction in the latest Buin-Faisi raid, which was made by Flying Fortresses shortly before dawn on Saturday, was an enemy heavy cruiser, which blew up after a direct hit by a 5001 b bomb. Two battleships or heavy cruisers are claimed to have been damaged by direct hits in the attacks on Friday night. Other claims not previously listed include:— DAMAGED. —A light cruiser and three unidentified vessels. PROBABLY DAMAGED.—An aircraft-carrier, a light cruiser and a destroyer.

The latest communiques from General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters state that the full results of the raid could not be observed, but the damage is believed to have been heavier than had been claimed. Sixty-six tons of bombs were dropped in this series of raids, which were all carried out in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire. No Allied planes were lost.

Australia-based aircraft now claim direct hits on 15 enemy ships in the Solomons and Rabaul areas during the past week. Seven other ships, including an aircraft-carrier and light cruisers, are believed to have been damaged by near misses. Friday night’s attacks on Japanese ships in the roadstead between Bum and Shortland Island were made by three waves of aircraft, two of Flying Fortresses and one of medium bombers. Twenty-seven tons of bombs were dropped, the attacks lasting for some hours. SUCCESSFUL PILOTS The star pilot of this raid was Captain Paul Cool, of Pontiac (Michigan). In the van of the initial Flying Fortress flight he found the enemy shipping well dispersed but he scored a direct hit on one of two ships lying together in the roadstead. In the dim light of the moon some pilots believed that the bomb found a battleship, but Captain Cool considers that his target was a heavy cruiser. On his second run Captain Cool dropped a heavy bomb close to an aircraft-carrier. War correspondents suggest that the carrier, as well as another cruiser, may have been at least extensively damaged. Experience

shows that “close ones” can sink ships because of severe underwater damage. Australian medium bomber pilots later claimed another direct hit on a battleship or heavy cruiser. It is not known whether this was the same vessel attacked by Captain Cool. Two damaged enemy ships were observed to be beached.

Flying Fortresses revisited Buin and Faisi in a low altitude attack early on Saturday morning, when 18 tons of bombs were dropped with remarkable success. A heavy cruiser blew up after a direct hit with a 5001 b bomb. Other direct hits damaged a light cruiser and a merchant vessel. At the same time another force of Flying Fortresses raided Rabaul harbour, dropping 21 tons of bombs. Observation was exceptionally difficult, but two unidentified vessels were set on fire by direct hits. Other damage is believed to have been heavy.

On Saturday an Allied bomber on reconnaissance in the Rabaul area was intercepted by 11 Zeros. In a running fight lasting 40 minutes three Zeros were shot down. Our bomber completed its mission and returned to its base.