SURPRISE BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1943, Page 3

SURPRISE BLOW

ATTACK ON SOURABAYA MADE BY AMERICAN BOMBERS OPERATING FROM AUSTRALIA. OIL REFINERY & OTHER TARGETS DAMAGED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 23. Sourabaya. in north-east Java, the main Japanese base in the Netherlands East Indies. was heavily attacked by American Liberators, operating from north Australia, early on Thursday morning. The' raid, which resulted in considerable damage to the large oil refinery, involved a flight of nearly 2400 miles — one of the longest bombing missions of the war. All the Liberators returned safely.

The Japanese were apparently taken by surprise, for the Sourabaya dock area was brightly lighted when the first formation of Liberators struck. Almost immediately an intense anti-aircraft barrage was thrown up. but this diminished in intensity as the raid progressed. , „„ . Describing the damage, General MacArthur's communique today says: "Direct hits with 5001 b. bombs and incendiaries were scored on the oil refinery resulting in five large firbs. The dock and nearby warehouses and railway installations were heavily hit with high explosives and incendiaries. Raging fires were reported by' the combat crews as being visible for 140 miles.” Our bombers hammered the extensive target area for almost an hour to make the first Allied air attack on Sourabaya, which lies 1000 miles from the nearest portion of the Australian mainland. The Japanese made no attempt at fighter interception. The oil refinery, which was the principal abjective o£ the raid, was dismantled by the Dutcli before the Japanese took Sourabaya. However the enemy had evidently succeeded in putting it back into commission. As a result of our air attack it is thought the refinery will be out of commission again for some time. Another Liberator on long-range reconnaiAance over the Celebes on Thursday was intercepted by four Zeros. After one enemy fighter had been shot down and two others damaged, a fourth made off and the Liberator completed its mission. NEW GUINEA & SOLOMONS.

Both in New Guinea and the Solomons. Allied aircraft on Thursday conducted intensive offensive operations. Liberators and Mitchells in force raided the Japanese positions around Komiatum, New Guinea, the key enemy position on the trail to Salamaua, dropping 93 tons of bombs. Several skirmjches occurred between the opposing giound troops near Namling in this area, the enemy incurring severe casualties. On the coast Allied forward elements aie in contact with the Japanese at Tambu Bay, about five miles- south-east of Salamaua. Tambu Bav guards the Japanese seaward and southerly flank. It is only two miles from Mount Tambu, where Australians are holding positions captured from the enemy last Fnd£General MacArthur's communique today reports the following operations in the SoloRendova: Our fighters intercepted and dispersed a superior force of enemy fighters and dive-bombers, shooting down two. One of our planes i.s missing. There were a few casualties and minor damage on the ground. New Georgia: Medium and dive-bombers and fighters flew 250 sorties in direct support of our ground troops, placing 135 tons of bombs on enemy positions and repeatedly strafing the area. Bougainville: Our heavy units at dusk bombed three enemy warships in the Bougainville Straits with unobserved results.