AIR FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1942, Page 3

AIR FIGHTING

HITS ON JAPANESE WARSHIPS NETHERLANDS-AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATION. SOME LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, January 13. A communique issued by the Batavia radio states: “Fighting at both invasion points is being stubbornly continued, with the active participation of our Allies. This morning two Australian seaplanes crashed in flames after an encounter with Japanese fighters. Over Singapore our fighters this morning shot down five Japanese planes. The pilot of one of our fighters baled out and landed safely by parachute after he had shot down two enemy planes.”

Referring to these operations, the Commonwealth Air Ministry announced: “R.A.A.F. Hudson aircraft hit one Japanese cruiser aft of its rear turret. On January 11, five R.A.A.F. Hudsons attacked a Japanese light cruiser and destroyer, scoring two direct hits and three near misses. On the same day further attacks were made on a Japanese cruiser at Kema, south of Menado. While attacking the warships the R.A.A.F. planes were attacked by enemy fighters. They shot down two Japanese fighters in flames and damaged a third. All the R.A.A.F. aircraft continued attacking the Japanese taking part in landing operations. Eight Hudsons engaged a superior number of Japanese fighters. Two Hudsons were lost and two more are reported missing.” A further Netherlands East Indies communique states: “During fresh attacks by Netherlands East Indies bombers on Japanese ship concentrations off Tarakan, two direct hits were 'registered on two transport ships. This morning Japanese planes bombed Kalonedale, in Central Celebes, injuring one soldier. About thirty heavy bombs were dropped. Other Japanese bombers raided Ternate, in the island of Halmahera. There were 24 casualties. A petrol storage depot was set on fire and some fires were caused in the centre of the town.”