SHATTERING BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1943, Page 4

SHATTERING BLOW

STRUCK BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT AT RABAUL 177 Japanese Aircraft Put Out of Action 140 ENEMY SHIPS AND HARBOUR CRAFT DESTROYED STORES AND WAREHOUSES LEFT BLAZING LONDON, October .13. A smashing air blow has been struck by the Allies at the Japanese base of Rabaul. A WASHINGTON COMMUNIQUE STATES THAT THE HEAVIEST AIR BLOW SO FAR IN THE SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC WAS DELIVERED AT MIDDAY TODAY, WHEN ALLIED AIRCRAFT ATTACKED THE ENEMY BASE OF RABAUL FOR TWO HOURS. ONE HUNDRED ENEMY PLANES WERE DESTROYED ON THE GROUND AND 51 SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE ENEMY WAS ONLY ABLE TO PUT 40 PLANES INTO THE AIR AND 26 OF THESE WERE SHOT DOWN. ALTOGETHER, 177 JAPANESE AIRCRAFT WERE PUT OUT OF ACTION. THIS IS ESTIMATED TO BE 50 PER CENT OF THE ENEMY AIR STRENGTH IN THAT AREA. Anti-aircraft positions, three airfields, harbour facilities and shipping were attacked. Stores and warehouses were left in raging fires. LIBERATORS SANK OR DAMAGED 140 JAPANESE SHIPS, INCLUDING THREE DESTROYERS, THREE MEDIUM-SIZED MERCHANT SHIPS, 43 SMALLER FREIGHTERS AND 70 HARBOUR CRAFT. The bombers were covered by a large force of Allied fighters. Only five Allied planes were lost. Others were damaged, but got back to their bases. The Japanese vzere caught completely unawares, with their bombers and fighters on the ground. This smashing success gives the Allies definite air superiority over the Solomons and adjacent areas and threatens the enemy’s whole perimeter of defence in that area.