Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Monday 21 September 1942, page 5


OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE.

To-day's communique reads: North-western sector.-Reconnaissance activity only.

North-eastern sector.-Lae: In a co-ordinated attack Allied medium bombers hit enemy dispersal areas while attack planes heavily strafed anti-aircraft and supply installations in the vicinity. Eight tons of bombs were dropped. There was no interception. All our planes returned.

Buna.-Allied fighters attacking up and down the Kokoda track set fire to an enemy Zero fighter and a supply dump at Buna aerodrome, and silenced an anti-aircraft position. Buildings, huts, and sheds along the track were heavily strafed with cannon and machine-gun fire.

Owen Stanley area: The situation is unchanged, with our patrols active.

Goodenough Bay.-Allied fighters strafed an enemy whaling boat, killing the occupants.

Port Moresby.-Two or three enemy raiding planes dropped bombs harm-lessly in an uninhabited wooded area

under cover of darkness.

Vitiaz Strait.-Allied heavy bombers attacked an enemy cargo vessel and a large motor boat from a low altitude, despite considerable :anti-aircraft fire which was partially silenced by machine-gun fire at a low altitude, and a fire was started on a cargo vessel. All our planes returned.

Solomons.-Buka : Allied medium bombers raided an enemy aerodrome at night in poor weather conditions. Bombs fell in the target area, starting a fire. Other results were not ob-

served.