GREAT AIR ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1943, Page 3

GREAT AIR ATTACK

ON JAPANESE IN NORTHERN SOLOMONS SEVEN ENEMY SHIPS SUNK. AND 49 AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, July 18. Seven Japanese vessels, four of them warships, including possibly oik* light cruiser, have been sunk, ami 49 enemy fighters destroyed in a great Allied ail- assault on the northern Solomons lasi night. ' Our Josses were six planes. Nearly 200 Allied aircraft took part in the attacks, which were made on the enemy’s Buin-Faisi anchorage. Throughout the night formations of heavy bombers also endeavoured to blanket Japanese airfields in the area, but the enemy was able to get considerable fighter interception strength into the air. However, in the battle which ensued, his air force, as well as his naval strength, took its most severe mauling since the beginning of the Allied Pacific drive The result was a smashing Allied victory. Details of the engagement arc given today in General MacArthur’s communique, which states: — “Bougainville-Buni-Faisi: During the night our heavy bombers executed continuing attacks on Kahili aerodrome for nine hours, starting many fires. Following this preparation our heavy torpedo and dive-bombers in force with strong fighter cover attacked enemy shipping in the anchorage with brilliant results. “Seven vessels were sunk, comprising one light cruiser or a destroyer leader, two destroyers, a submarine chaser and a tanker, and two cargo vessels. A third cargo vessel was damaged and beached. The enemy’s air force in strength unsuccessfully attempted to protect the shipping. Forty-nine enemy fighters were shot down in the great aerial combat which resulted. Six of our planes are missing.”

MUNDA BOMBED HEAVILY. The Allies are developing a pulverising air offensive throughout the Solomons. On Friday besieged Munda air base received its heaviest blows, when more than 100 planes dropped 82 tons of bombs in two big raids. These air blows were struck in direct support of the American troops who are moving forward in pouring rain against 1 the Munda defence perimeter. Allied dive-bombers have also operated in direct support of the ground forces in the Bairoko area. Near Vella Lavella, a small Japanese cargo ship was bombed and set on fire by one of our aircraft on reconnaissance. Except for the air battle over the Buin-Faisi anchorage, General MacArthur's communiques have reported only slight Japanese aerial activity during the past 48 hours. Indicative of the general Allied air superiority in this theatre is the announcement that the United States 13th Army Air Force shot down 71 Japanese planes in the Solomons during June for the loss of only three American machines. Though reinforced with front-line pilots according to war correspondents in the area, the Japanese South Pacific air force is now taking its biggest thrashing. NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN. Following the victory at Mubo latest reports from the South-West Pacific area headquarters tell of patrol activity, and the spokesman said that progress was continuing. ■ Allied forces are putting on the pressure in the northern sector of the Salamaua area. Our aircraft have raided Japanese positions near Bobdubi and on the Salamaua isthmus. On Saturday medium bombers dropped 30 tons of explosives on enemy installations at Salamaua. Direct hits on ammunition and fuel dumps caused large explosions and numerous fires. When four Japanese aircraft raided Allied stations on Langa Island they were driven off by anti-aircraft fire. Langa Island is about 15 miles south of Nassau Bay. It is one of the points occupied by the Allies in their northerly expansion along the New Guinea coast from Gona.