MILNE BAY BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 April 1943, Page 3

MILNE BAY BATTLE

THIRTY JAPANESE PLANES SHOT OUT OF ACTION THREE SMALL ALLIED SHIPS DAMAGED. ONE HIT HEAVILY & FORCED TO BEACH. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 15. “From 75 to 100 enemy aircraft, comprising 46 medium and dive-bombers, with a fighter escort, raided the Milne Bay area at midday, states a communique from General MacArthur's headquarters. “Damage and casualties were caused on three small Allied vessels. Fires started on two were quickly controlled. The third was heavily hit and forced to beach. The damage to shore installations was negligible. Our fighters and anti-aircraft batteries engaged the raiders and shot 30 cut of action. Of these, 22 were bombers and eight fighters. Fifteen were actually seen to crash, nine were seen falling after being hit, and six were seen to receive bursts and left the action. It is unlikely that any were able to return to their base. Our fighter losses were moderate.” More than 100 Japanese planes have been shot out of action (destroyed or seriously damaged) since the enemy launched his new air offensive in the South-West Pacific at the weekend. At a conservative estimate, the Japanese have used 220 aircraft in a week's raids on the three Allied New Guinea bases of Oro Bay, Port Moresby and Milne. Bay. A fierce air battle was fought above the three small Allied vessels hit in the latest enemy attack. R.A.A.F.-manned Kittyhawks were the first to engage the Japanese air fleet and were responsible for a large proportion of the casualties inflicted. The raiders were intercepted before they reached the target area. The Japanese medium bombers kept at altitudes ranging from 20,000 to 27,000 ft. and the divebombers swooped low to attack their targets. While the attacks were in progress, American-manned Lockheed Lightnings swept into battle and assisted the Kittyhawks to drive off the enemy force. Allied anti-aircraft gunners put up a furious barrage and are officially stated to have accounted for a number of Japanese. “ONLY A PRELUDE” STATEMENT BY JAPANESE ADMIRAL. NEW YORK, April 15. The recent attacks in New Guinea were only a prelude to a large-scale Japanese aerial offensive against the Allied bases in the South-West _ Pacific, declared Admiral Hideo Hiraide, the official Japanese naval spokesman, over the Tokio radio. Japan, he said, had concentrated very large land and air forces near Australia.