SMASHING RAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1943, Page 3

SMASHING RAID

ON AERODROMES ROUND RABAUL MADE BY AMERICAN BOMBERS HITS ON AMMUNITION DUMPS. DESTRUCTION OF AIRCRAFT ALSO INDICATED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 11. In a smashing night raid lasting three hours, Flying Fortresses and Liberators dropped nearly 40 tons of bombs on three aerodromes around Japan’s key southern Pacific base of Rabaul. Lakunai aerodrome, south of the town, was the chief objective, but Vunakanau and Rapopo were also heavily attacked. Earlier reconnaissance flights had revealed a concentration of 149 Japanese bombers and fighters on Vanakanau and Rapopo aerodromes, General MacArthur’s spokesman revealed today. Five waves of Allied bombers made the attacks, which were the heaviest against Rabaul since March 23, when 54 tons of bombs were dropped. Intense anti-aircraft fire and interception by three enemy night fighters, all of which were driven off. inflicted no casualties on our planes, all of which returned. The bombs dropped included high explosive, fragmentation and incendiary types. Detailing the results of the raid General MacArthur’s communique says: "Thousand pound bombs caused violent explosions, indicating hits on ammunition dumps. Numerous large fires were started and were visible 50 miles away. Many small fires—more than 19 were actually counted in the dispersal bays—indicated burning aircraft. Several searchlights at Vanakanau were simultaneously extinguished by one bomb burst.” The attack on Rabaul is the only major operation reported in General MacArthur’s latest communique. Three other raids have been made during the past 24 hours by Allied bombers engaged on armed reconnaissance.

A Catalina made a night attack on Gasmata aerodrome, in New Britain. North of Australia a heavy bomber attacked a 4000ton enemy cargo ship entering Kokas harbour, on McCluer Gulf, on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea. Damaging close misses at the stern with 5001 b. bombs left the ship stationary in the water. The town, area and shipping in the harbour at Sorong. on the westerly tip of Dutch New Guinea, were also attacked. Large explosions and fires occurred near the jetty.