MANY AIRCRAFT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1943, Page 3

MANY AIRCRAFT

INCLUDING DIVE=BOMBERS THROWN IN BY JAPANESE. IN NEW GUINEA FIGHTING AREAS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 16. The Japanese Air Force has transferred its attention in New Guinea to the Wau-Mubo area, where intensified land fighting is in progress. Fighting began at the end of January when the Japanese were driven back with heavy casualties after a disastrous attempt to capture Wau aerodrome. General MacArthur's communique today reports two attacks on this area yesterday, made by a total of 98 enemy aircraft. The number of planes employed strikingly indicates that, damage their continued heavy combat losses, the Japanese are maintaining their air strength in the areas north of Australia Referring to the attack on Wau the communique says. “Twenty enemy bombers, escorted by 14 fighters, bom'bed the area in the morning. Our forces sustained neither damage nor casualties.” Still stronger enemy air formations raided Allied positions around Bodbubi, a small village recently occupied by Australian forces. Sharp ground clashes have been developing in this area for several days. However, Saturday was the first occasion when enemy aircraft have supported their troops in this area. Allied planes have harried Japanese ground forces incessantly. A communique reports: “The enemy launched a heavy air attack shortly after dawn, with nine bombers and 15 fighting, followed later by 40 dive-bom-bers.” No mention is made of Allied fighter interception in either of these attacks, nor is there reference to any damage or casualties caused by the Bobdubi raid. However Japanese aircraft which clashed with Allied planes over other South-West Pacific sectors on Saturday took heavy punishment. Seven were shot down and three others probably destroyed. Japanese intercepting fighters were active, while enemy bombers made other small nuisance raids. • Allied bombers made heavy attacks, principally against Rabaul, New Britain, and Nabire, an enemy base on the north coast of Geelvink Bay, on the “neck” of Dutch New Guinea. Explosions and fires among dispersal bays and adjacent installations were caused on Vunakanau aerodrome. Rabaul, while large fires were also started at Nabire. One of three intercepting Japanese fighters was shot down.” An Allied heavy bomber reconnoitring over Wilaumez peninsula, northern New Britain, was intercepted by five enemy fighters, destroying two of them and severely damaging the other three.