AIR WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1942, Page 4

AIR WAR

ON NORTHERN APPROACHES TO AUSTRALIA going well for allies. BRILLIANT RAID ON LAE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.in.) RUGBY, April 6. A brilliant hit and run raid on Lae aerodrome by Royal Australian . Aii Force fighters late on Saturday night, in which fifteen enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged without loss, is further described in a Port Moresby message. The attack, which was preceded by a survey by a single plane, was carried out at ground level. The Japanese were caught completely off theii guard and the R.A.A.F. fighters met no anti-aircraft opposition. The R.A.A.F. planes swooped in, machinegunning three separate lines of Japanese aircraft, while the enemy personnel were running for cover. As they left, the Australian pilots saw large fires coming from four bombers and a fighter and they are confident that they also damaged badly seven or eight bombers and at least three fighters. “The air war in New Guinea,” adds the Port Moresby message, “at present goes distinctly in favour of the R.A.F. and their Allies. The gallantry and skill of our airmen is helping to maintain New Guinea as the strongest buffer against further Japanese moves from Rabaul and north coast bases towards Australia.”