DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 March 1943, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS

ON JAPANESE AIRFIELDS AT RABAUL MANY ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. GASMATA ALSO HEAVILY ATTACKED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 24. A Japanese concentration of more than 250 planes on aerodromes at Rabaul was dealt a crippling blow by a three-wave Flying Fortress attack before dawn yesterday. The exact toll of these attacks, which were among the biggest yet made on this key enemy South Pacific base, was obscured by a dense pall of smoke over the target areas, but official reports declare that a “substantial proportion” of the enemy planes was destroyed. ‘ The concentration, comprising mainly fighters, was probably the greatest ever massed on' the three Rabaul aerodromes and, when it was sighted, no time was lost in gathering our bombers for the raid. The aggregations in order of size were on the Lakunai field, which stretches across the peninsula between Simpson Harbour and Matupi Bay; Vunakanau field, inland from Keravia Bay, and Rapopo field, the most distant aerodrome from Rabaul, on the extreme southerly arm of Blanche Bay. The first wave of Fortresses, striking at 3.20 a.m., concentrated on Lakunai for half an hour. Then the second wave attacked Rapopo, remaining over the target for an hour. The third attack, on Vunakanau, was the longest of the three, the entire raid lasting more than 1 two hours. In spite of an anti-aircraft barrage described as “murderously fierce,” all our bombers returned to their baie. Several were damaged. As well as destroying grounded aircraft, 54 tons of bombs, including many 2000-pounders, must have caused substantial damage to the aerodromes themselves. Liberators made two harassing raids on the aerodrome at Gasmata (New Britain). These followed a heavy attack on Monday night, when a month’s developmental work on this field was wrecked. The Japanese have used Gasmata as a refuelling base for bombers, returning from missions to New Guinea, and for fighters protecting convoys from Rabaul, but the sustained hammering which the aerodrome has had will restrict its use for some time. The 2000-pounders dropped on these aerodromes have torn huge cavities in the runways which necessitate considerable work in refilling and resurfacing. A London message states that one report estimates that about half of the Japanese aeroplanes caught on the aerodromes at Rabaul were destroyed. ALL PLANES RETURN FROM WIDELY EXTENDED ATTACKS. ENEMY CARGO SHIP SUNK. SYDNEY, March 24. General MacArthur’s communiquestates: — t “North-western sector, Babar Island (Masela): Our medium bombers strafed an enemy coastal vessel. “Tenimber Island (Saumlaki): Our medium units bombed the town area. “North-eastern sector, Admiralty Islands (Lorengau): One of our heavy units bombed an enemy schooner in the harbour. The communique then gives details of the raid on the aerodromes at Rabaul and Gasmata and continues: “Cape Gazelle: Our heavy bombers returning fro'm a raid on Rabaul strafed and set fire to a 10,000-ton transport. “Borgen Bay: Reconnaissance reveals that the enemy cargo ship heavily damaged by our air attack two days ago, definitely sank. An oil slick covers the bay. “New Guinea (Salamaua): In condi-, tions of heavy rain and low cloud, our attack units at dawn from a low level bombed and strafed the isthmus. Poor visibility prevented observations of the results. Later in the morning our medium bombers executed a strafing sweep over the area, machine-gunning enemy barges in Labu lagoon, bivouac localities in the Markham Valley and buildings in Salamaua township. Several hours later, one of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome. No interception was encountered throughout the day. “Mubo: Our attack planes and longrange fighters at a low altitude swept over the area during the morning, executing six bombing runs and 27 strafing passes against enemy-held positions. Anti-aircraft fire was encountered, but there was no interception. All our planes returned.” MATERIAL DAMAGE DONE BY ENEMY RAID ON GUADALCANAL. NO CASUALTIES CAUSED. LONDON, March 24. Japanese aircraft last night raided Guadalcanal and inflicted what Washington describes as material damage, without causing any casualties. American fighters attacked enemy targets in the Central Solomons. NO CHANGE IN ALLOCATION OF SUPPLIES TO PACIFIC. ACCORDING TO WASHINGTON ] CORRESPONDENTS. | (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 23. Australian correspondents in Washington say that in spite of the wealth of support for more aid to . the Pacific the proportions of supplies going to the various fronts will remain as agreed upon at Casablanca. “According to Washington authorities there is not the slightest likelihood of either political pressure oi’ the representations of area commanders effecting alterations,” writes the Sydney

“Sun” correspondent today. “However, increased aid may follow the expansion of over-all production. Holding' the Pacific while Hitler is smashed means holding it with the least possible expenditure of materials and men so that the Smash Hitler First policy can be accomplished with the least delay.”