BIG FIRES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1943, Page 3

BIG FIRES

STARTED ON AERODROMES ROUND RABAUL ATTACKS PRESSED HOME IN FACE OF STRONG DEFENCES. DESTRUCTION OF GROUNDED PLANES. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 25. Strong concentrations of medium bombers and fighters which were assembled at aerodromes round Rabaul (New Britain), the main Japanese base in the Southern Pacific, were heavily attacked by Allied bombers early yesterday morning. General MacArthur’s Communique today says: “Our heavy bombers attacked this enemy base shortly after midnight, dropping more than 16 tons of explosives and incendiaries on the Sulphur Creek seaplane base and on the dispersal areas at the Vunakanau, Lakunai and Rapopo aerodromes. Fires started among parked aircraft were seen burning 30 minutes after the attack from 100 miles away.”

The Sulphur Creek seaplane slipway is situated just south of the Rabaul town area. It has been used as a base for the big four-engined Kawanisi fly-ing-boats, which have the same range as Allied Catalinas.

Attacking all their objectives, Flying Fortresses and Lberators had to meet intense anti-aircraft fire. Japanese searchlights round Rabaul were reported to be numerous and well distributed, and the enemy’s anti-aircraft fire was on an increased scale from that encountered in previous raids. The biggest fires were started on Vunakanau aerodrome, north-west of Rabaul, on Kcravia Bay. Heavy damage is also believed to have been done in the target area at Lakunai, which covers the site of Rabaul's former golf course and racecourse. One night fighter made a pass at a Fortress, but did not press the attack. There was no other air interception. Gasmata aerodrome, on the south coast of New Britain, was bombed yesterday for the thirteenth successive day. Bombs dropped by a strong formation of Mitchells scored hits in the dispersal areas. Returning from, a dawn attack on Lae, in which large fires and explosions were caused among waterfront installations, one of our raiding Boston attack bombers received minor damage from anti-aircraft fire. A shell badly wounded the plane's rear gunner, exploding inside his cabin. North of Australia, a heavy attack was made on Penfoei aerodrome, in Koepang (Timor), fires started in the dispersal area being visible for 30 miles.

JAPANESE SHIPS BOMBED OFF SHORTLAND ISLAND. INEFFECTIVE ENEMY RAID ON GUADALCANAL. LONDON, May 25. Liberator bombers in the Solomons attacked three Japanese cargo ships off Shortland Island. Full results could not be seen. Japanese positions on shore were also bombed. Another target was the Japanese positions on Munda, Both Liberators and Flying Fortresses took part. The Japanese replied by sending three bombers to raid Guadalcanal. All their bombs were wasted.