DOBO BASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1943, Page 3

DOBO BASE

WRECKED IN REPEATED ALLIED RAIDS ATTACKS ALSO ON BUIN & OTHER AREAS. IN SUPPORT OF AMERICAN FLEET. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 9. Repeated bombing raids have wrecked the large Japanese supply base at Dobo (Aru Islands) about 500 miles north-east of Darwin. The latest heavy attacks which ' completed its destruction were part of continued wide activity by General MacArthur’s South-West Pacific air force yesterday. Dutch and Australian units combined in these raids on Dobo, subsequent photographic reconnaissance showing that three-quarters of the town area had been destroyed and the jetty blown up. The raids were the most destructive yet made by Dutch and Australian air units. Manned by Dutch crews, American Mitchell bombers were over the target \ area in three waves early yesterday morning. This was Dobo’s third raid in five , days. Bombs blasted buildings and ♦ started huge fires. An hour later, two flights of Australian Hudsons attacked with incendiary and demolition bombs, completing the wrecking of the town. Earlier, a Liberator dropped bombs which destroyed the jetty. About 1200 miles east, of Dobo in the northern Solomons, Catalina flyingboats made their third attack in five nights on the important Japanese base at Buin, on Bougainville Island. These raids were in support of the American fleet now operating in the area. The Kahili aerodrome was the target for the latest attack, the flying-boats staying over their objective for more than two hours. Violent explosions are reported. One of these, apparently an ammunition dump, rocked a Catalina flying at more than 9000 feet. Several large enemy aircraft, probably heavy bombers, were set' on fire. Searchlights emplacements and buildings were demolished and a 2000-

ton ship offshore burnt and completely destroyed following a direct hit. No reports have been received from other sources of operations in the Solomons area. Reports have been received of a large naval concentration at the main enemy base of Truk (Caroline Islands), but bad weather in the area is said to have hampered American reconnaissance.

General MacArthur’s communique today also reports the bombing of an enemy aerodrome at Gasmata (New Britain) and the town area at Finschhafen (New Guinea) by Liberators. At Babo (Dutch New Guinea), on McCleur Gulf, west of Kaukenau, another Liberator bombed the jetty area. Land fighting in the Mubo-Wau area of New Guinea has been confined to the Wandumi district, where an Australian patrol wiped out a pocket of enemy troops eight miles east of Wau aerodrome. Havoc attack planes bombed and strafed enemy supply trails near Mubo.