AIR ACTIVITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1943, Page 3

AIR ACTIVITY

IN THE SOLOMONS AREA AMERICANS ATTACK JAPANESE POSITIONS. ABORTIVE ENEMY RAID ON GUADALCANAL. LONDON, June 16. American aircraft have made further attacks on Japanese positions in the Shortland and Solomons Islands. The Japanese replied by sending 15 bombers to raid Guadalcanal but no damage or casualties resulted. NIGHT FIGHTERS USED IN THE DEFENCE. Or RABAUL. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ALLIED RAID. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY. June 16. Night fighters are being used by the Japanese over Rabaul, in New Britain. This new development follows the continued Allied hammering of the enemy aerodromes in the area in pre-dawn attacks. Our raiders have inflicted heavy losses among grounded aircraft,-and it is believed have also destroyed a considerable quantity of ammunition

and supplies. For the fourth time in six nights, Allied heavy bombers were again over Rabaul yesterday. Nineteen Liberators, a record number, comprised the raiding formation, and they made five separate attacks on the Lakunai and Rapopo airfields, extending over two hours Reporting the raid, General MacArthur’s communique today says: "Twen-ty-three tons of fragmentation and incendiary bombs were concentrated on grounded aircraft in the dispersal areas. Many explosions and seven large fires with flames visible for .60 miles, and numerous small fires in the revetment areas, indicating burning planes, were caused. In spite of intense anti-aircraft and search-light activity, and attempted interception by night fighters, all our planes returned.” “A single Liberator led the attackers on to their targets, and successive blows were struck by larger groups. Three single-seater enemy night fighters, possibly Zeros, fired on the second group of Liberators, but did nc damage.”

An aerial reconnaissance made after the latest raid showed 254 aircraft on the four enemy aerodromes near Rabaul.

The Japanese yesterday employed their largest force for some weeks to raid Allied positions in New Guinea. Sixty-six planes took part in two attacks. A force of 27 bombers and 30 fighters attacked three native villages in the Benabena area, near Madang. The precise targets in these raids have not been indicated, but a rcpoii. states that some damage was done. It is known that there were emergency landing strips in the Benabena area before the war.