DARWIN AIR BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1943, Page 4

DARWIN AIR BATTLE

SOME UNEXPLAINED FACTOR SPECULATION 'N AUSTRALIA. GREATLY EXAGGERATED ENEMY CLAIM. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. “Clearly some factor entered into the combat which has not yet been explained in official reports,” declares the “Sydney Morning Herald” war commentator today, reviewing the air battle over Darwin. The Tokio radio has claimed that 21 Spitfires were shot down, but a spokesman at General MacArthur’s Headquarters describes this claim as “greatly exaggerated.” Reports from Darwin reveal that the Japanese bombers dropped their bombs harmlessly in scrub. The Spitfires which went up to intercept left the bombers alone, so that anti-air-craft guns could open up. Our fighters did not attack the raiders until they were crossing the coastline on their way back to their bases, and fierce dogfights lasted for about fifteen minutes, during which turning and twisting fighters flew hundreds of miles and fired thousands of rounds of shells and bullets. It is believed that some of the Zeros, though undamaged in combat, would have insufficient fuel remaining after the battle to reach their bases.

“It is salutary that Australia should be startled into a recognition of the continuing skill of the enemy ringed about our north,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald.” The paper adds that the assumption that the Japanese sent their best pilots to do battle with crack British aircraft is not a satisfying explanation of the losses. The contrast between the present ill success and the many fine victories previously won by Allied airmen in the north should prompt inquiries into the reasons for the heavily increased ratio of losses. ,