25 ZEROS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1943, Page 4

25 ZEROS

4 SHOT DOWN BY AMERICAN AIRMEN EIGHT MORE PROBABLY DESTROYED. SUCCESSES IN SOUTH & NORTH PACIFIC. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, June 13. Twenty-five of a formation of 40 to 50 Japanese Zero fighters have been shot down by United States Navy, Army and Marine Corps pilots in furious dogfights near the Russell Islands. A communique states: “During the night of June 10, Flying Fortresses and Avengers bombed and started fires among Japanese positions in the Buin area. On the morning of June 12, American fighters intercepted 40 to 50 Zeros and shot down. 25 of them. Eight more were probably brought down. The American losses were six planes, but four of the pilots are safe. “On the same morning Liberators encountered two Mitsubishi bombers 20 miles west of the Buka Islands and destroyed one. “During the morning of June 11, Liberators, Mitchells, Lightnings and Warhawks carried out five attacks against Japanese installations on Kiska. Hits were scored on the main camp area and on a runway. Barges in the harbour were bombed and strafed.”