HEAVY ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1943, Page 4

HEAVY ATTACKS

MADE BY AMERICAN PLANES IN ALEUTIANS AND ON SOUTH PACIFIC TARGETS. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) RUGBY, April 13. The headquarters of the Alaska Defence Command Army announced that Lightnings and Warhawk fighters five times successfully bombed Kiska, also "Little Kiska” and Japanese garrisons in the Aleutians on Saturday. The fighters, defying heavy anti-air-craft fire, swept in from a low level and scored hits on waterfront installations and on the Kiska camp area, and also on an apparently completed fighter runway at Salmon Lagoon, the repoit states “Lightnings have brought down 37 Japanese planes, without loss, since they entered into combat action in the Aleutians.” J J The United States Navy Department states :“On Sunday a formation of Army Mitchells, Warhawks and Lightnings carried out four bombing attacks on Kiska. Hits were scored and fires were started in an enemy camp a rea ” It adds: “In the South Pacific on Sunday, Lightnings and Corsair fighters strafed Rekata Bay, on Santa Isabel Island. A number of anti-aircraft gun positions were silenced. During the night Flying Fortresses attacked Kahili, in the Shortland Island area. Two Flying Fortresses failed to return, apparently due to unfavourable weather. The results of the attack were not observed. “On the same night a Catalina patrol bomber attacked Munda, in New Georgia Island. On Monday a force of Avenger torpedo-bombers strafed Vila, on Kolombangra Island. Fires were started in a camp area. During the same operation, Avengers attacked Ringi Cove, three miles to the northwest, and started fires. No United States bombers were'lost in these two attacks.’.’