LOST IN SOLOMONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1942, Page 3

LOST IN SOLOMONS

TWO AMERICAN DESTROYERS ENEMY CRUISER & DESTROYER DAMAGED. ATTACKS BY DIVE-BOMBERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, October 21. A naval communique states: “The United States destroyers Meredith and O’Brien were lost within the last few days as a result of enemy action in the Solomons area. The report on the casualties has not been received, but it is believed that all the personnel of the O’Brien and many of the personnel of the Meredith were rescued.

“Large numbers of enemy ships continue to be sighted in the Solomon Islands, and small units have been located and attacked in the southern Solomons. ’

“There has • been little recent troop activity on Guadalcanar. Our aircraft are continuing to bomb the enemy positions. “Early in the afternoon of -October 19 enemy aircraft attacked positions on Guadalcanar. Grumman Wildcats shot down two Zeros, and one Wildcat was lost. Late in the afternoon Douglas dive-bombers attacked three enemy destroyers west of Guadalcanar, and one destroyer was damaged and an escorting seaplane was shot down.

“On the night of October 19 naval aircraft attacked an enemy cruiser west of Guadalcanar. The cruiser was damaged and stopped by at least one bomb hit.

“Early yesterday morning naval aircraft bombed enemy supply dumps and positions in north-west Guadalcanar. Late in the morning approximately 30 Zeros flew over the airfield, and 16 bombers escorted by fighters followed an hour later. Two of the enemy bombers and seven Zeros were shot down, an dtwo United States fighters were lost.”