DAMAGING RAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1942, Page 3

DAMAGING RAID

MADE BY ALLIED PLANES ON RABAUL DIRECT HITS ON GROUNDED PLANES. RECENT ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, May 25. One of the heaviest attacks yet made against the enemy in the north-eastern sector was delivered by the Allied air force over Rabaul yesterday. Today’s communique states: “Vunakanau aerodrome at Rabaul was attacked, our air force inflicting severe losses on enemy grounded heavy bombers. Twenty bombs were dropped on one group of about 20 parked aeroplanes. All landed in the target area, and two direct hits were observed and many planes were set on fire. One building was left ablaze. “Considerable anti-aircraft fire was encountered, but there was no fighter interception. One of our planes has not returned.” Vunakanau is the largest aerodrome in New Britain, and is situated about 12 miles east of Rabaul at a town in Blanche Bay. Though it has not been previously mentioned in Allied communiques, many earlier raids had been made upon it. The past three weeks’ raids on Rabaul have resulted in six enemy bombers and 10 fighters being destroyed and a further 14 bombers and four fighters damaged. Six vessels in Rabaul harbour have also been damaged during the period. The Japanese have been steadily amassing equipment at Rabaul for almost three months past. They fortified the harbour and enlarged the wharves and storage facilities, and have since used it as their main southward base. A considerable part of the enemy’s air strength in this theatre is centred at Vunakanau, the aerodrome having been extended by the Japanese and buildings erected. Some weeks ago it was reported that a Japanese force of 80 heavy bombers with adequate fighter support was based on Vunakanau and the lesser aerodromes near Rabaul. The enemy forces which occupied the Buka passage in the northern sector of the Solomons came from Rabaul. The Allied raids on this main enemy stronghold in the South Pacific are increasing. * On Saturday, when the Allied bombers attacked shipping at Amboina (which, after Sourabaya, is the most important naval base in the Netherlands East Indies), a strong force of Zero fighters intercepted and three were shot down, one of our planes being lost in combat. The bombers and fighters were numerically evenly matched, and the fighters had the great advantage in firepower. A 25-year-old R.A.A.F. squadron leader who led the raid said that only superb formation flying enabled the bombers to get clear and inflict such heavy losses bn the Japanese attackers. “Our rear gunners were magnificent, and made the Zeros keep their distance,” he said. “Bombs were dropped round four ships of 1000 to 8000 tons. Anti-aircraft fire and the fighter opposition prevented observation of results.”

The previous raid on Amboina was made on May 13, when a 3000-ton enemy ship was sunk and direct hits were scored on two others. The New Guinea mainland was also attacked by Allied aircraft on Saturday, following the fierce raid on Friday.