SEVERE CHECK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1943, Page 3

SEVERE CHECK

SUFFERED BY ALLIED AIR FORCES IN REPELLING RAID ON DARWIN HEAVY LOOSS OF SPITFIRES. , 13 ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED ; OR DAMAGED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) s SYDNEY, May 3. After a long succession of air victories over Darwin, the f Allied air forces suffered a ■ severe check yesterday. De- ' scribing' the action over Dar- ’ win aerodrome, General MacArthur’s communique today uses for the first time the phrase, “Our losses were . heavy.” The communique said: ‘Twenty-one enemy bombers, escorted by 30 fighters, attacked the aerodrome from a high altitude. Damage on the ground was negligible. Our fighters intercepted, destroying or damaging 13 enemy planes. Our own air losses were heavy.’ These losses were suffered by defending Spitfires which definitely destroyed three Japanese fighters and damaged nine others and one bomber. It is believed, however, that several of the Spitfire pilots were saved after I their machines were shot out of the action. Early release of the detailed Allied losses has been promised by I general headquarters. ATTACK FROM HIGH LEVEL. The Japanese raiding force attacked at 10.15 a.m. from 26,000 feet. It is possible that the Zeros which put up such an improved showing against the Spitfires were piloted by Japanese Army air aces instead of second grade naval pilots who normally furnish the escorts. The ranks of Japanese naval fighter pilots have been heavily depleted in combat. The Darwin raid is the first occasion on which enemy planes have appeared in force in this theatre since the big attack on Milne Bay on April 14. The base for the attack is not stated. The main Japanese air bases in the Darwin sector are Amboina, 580 miles away, and Koepang, Timor, 520 miles distant. By the use of belly tanks enemy fighters could operate from either of these bases.

This is the second occasion on which R.A.F. and R.A.A.F. Spitfires have been in action against tthe Japanese in this area—excluding March 7, when they shot down a lone enemy reconnaissance plane. In the raid on Darwin on March 15, when 25 bombers and 24 Zeros participated, Spitfires shot down two bombers and 12 fighters and seriously damaged two other bombers and five fighters. On that occasion, four Spitfires were lost, but two of the pilots were saved. It is possible that in consideration of the Spitfire opposition they knew they were likely to encounter, the Japanese yesterday sent over a special selected team. Recent reports from other theatres, including China, indicate that the Japanese have been sending their best pilots into the southern Pacific area.

BOMBER BEATS OFF ZEROS.

Japanese fighter strength was also in evidence yesterday in other sectors, Over Gasmata, New Britain, a heavy bomber on reconnaissance had to fight off seven intercepting Zeros, two of which were damaged. Allied bombers were active both in the north-western and north-eastern sectors. A small Japanese merchant ship off Toeal, in the Kei Islands, ran aground on a reel.' in trying to avoid bombing and strafing attacks by our medium bombers. Other units made a heavy night attack on Penfoei aerodrome, at Koepang, Timor, a growing centre of Japanese aircraft activity. Numerous fires were started. In the Mubo area of New Guinea, Australian-manned Boston attack planes are keeping up their support of Allied, ground troops. Japanese fortifications have again been under intensive attack, 42 bombing and strafing runs being made in yesterday’s scries of raids.