MANY AIR ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1943, Page 3

MANY AIR ATTACKS

ON JAPANESE IN PACIFIC AREA DESTROYER LEFT BURNING NUMBER OF OTHER CRAFT DESTROYED. PRELIMINARIES TO ASSAULT NO MUNDA. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) SYDNEY. July 29. A Japanese destroyer and either a transport or a cargo ship were _ left burning fiercely yesterday, after direct hits by Allied heavy bombers off Cape Gloucester, in New Britain.

In widespread air attacks in the New Guinea and Solomons areas, our bombers and surface units destroyed 16 Japanese barges and two launches, and damaged three more barges. Mitchell bombers made a destructive raid on an enemy barge base at Rein Bay, east of Cape Gloucester, wiping out seven barges and two launches. Nine Lockheed Lightnings engaged 15 Zeros which attempted to attack the Mitchells. Six enemy fighters were shot down and two others probably destroyed. All our planes returned. There are no further reports of ground fighting in Munda, New Georgia but the Japanese defences have again been pounded from the air. Dauntlesses and Avengers, escorted by Corsairs and Wildcats, yesterday dropped 47 tons of bombs on Gurasai, Bilolo Hill and Munda Point. The Japanese are confined to a block measuring approximately 21 miles by 11 miles. The divebombing attacks are reported by a war correspondent in the area to be a preliminary to an assault by American tanks and infantry.