AMERICAN AIRCRAFT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1943, Page 4

AMERICAN AIRCRAFT

ACTIVITIES IN PACIFIC SOLOMONS AIRFIELD RAIDED. CLASH OFF WAKE ISLAND. LONDON, January 27. In the northern Solomons a formation of Flying Fortresses yesterday heavily bombed a Japanese airfield on an island in that area and started fires. On the previous day American reconnaissance planes off Wake Island, in the 'Pacific, were attacked by eight Zeros. Two of these were probably destroyed. All the American planes returned safely. MANY ATTACKS AROUND ARC OF ENEMY BASES. ANOTHER POWERFUL RAID ON RABAUL. SYDNEY, January 27. Prevention of the consolidation of Japanese bases around the arc of 2000 stretching from the Arafura Sea to the northern Solomons was again the object of Allied air attacks in this theatre on Tuesday. Aerodrome and harbour facilities were the chief targets. Again the Allied Air Force struck its heaviest blow at Japanese shipping concentration at Rabaul —the eighth attack in 10 days. Formations of Flying Fortresses raided aerodrome as well as shipping and started fires. At least one large merchantman was hit and left burning. The Japanese followed the unusual course of sending up intercepting night fighters, but them effort was ineffectual. More than. 220,000 tons of enemy shipping have been sunk or damaged since the present series of, raids on Rabaul began on December 27. Shipping at Waterfall Bay and aerodromes at Gasmata, Cape Gloucester and other New Britain targets were attacked by Liberators. Further east Catalinas attacked Buka in the first raid on this area by bombers under General MacArthur’s command since November 22. Fires were started among the aerodrome supply dumps.

Three points on the northern New Guinea coast were attacked, Finschhafen, Lae and Salamaua, by Mitchell medium bombers. Havoc attack planes had Lockheed-Lightning fighter protection for a heavy raid oi| Lae. Havocs and Beaufighters made strafing sweeps inland from Salamaua to Mubo and along the coast from Salamaua to Bakumbari.

North of Australia, Allied Hudsons swept across the Arafura Sea and attacked three enemy cargo vessels off Cape Vanderbosch. The results are not known.

The sole Japanese air offensive was a harmless night attack on Port Moresby aerodrome area by two bombers.