HEAVY DEFEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 September 1943, Page 3

HEAVY DEFEAT

SUSTAINED BY JAPANESE IN AIR BATTLE OVER FINSCHHAFEN MORE THAN 6,300 ENEMY DEAD. COUNTED IN LAE-SALAMAUA AREA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, September 24. The air combat, in which 40 Japanese planes were destroyed and five probably destroyed over the Finschhafen area of New Guinea, was one, of the fiercest of the SouthWest Pacific war. Today’s communique from General MacArthur states that the battle broke when between 20 and 30 Japanese bombers, escorted by from 30 to 40 fighters, came over as Allied naval units were withdrawing after covering the landing of Australian troops six miles north of the enemy’s Finschhafen base. Allied fighters intercepted, and for 25 minutes dog-fights raged at altitudes up to 27,000 ft. Anti-aircraft guns of the ships in the convoy joined in the action. Not one ship was damaged and no casualties were suffered. Of the three Allied fighters lost, the pilot of one was saved. More than 6,300 Japanese dead have already been counted in the LaeSalamaua area of New Guinea and the final estimates will be very much greater. About 600 of the enemy who are believed to be scattered in the hills north of Lae are being hunted down.

Japanese resistance at Finschhafen is being systematically wiped out. The Australians are within two miles of the town, which is under fire from artillery.