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a~~P~v~P RasAuE
Somewhere in Australia.
-Heavy Allied bombers
dropped 40 tons of bombs
on Japanese aerodromes
at Rabaul early yesterday,
says General MacArthur's
communique today.
Big explosions and fires
were caused, .and planes
on the ground were set
alight.
T-HE communique says:-
NOR'1H-EAST SECTOR
NEW BRITAIN (Raboul).-Our
heavy units in a three-hour pre
dawn attack, dropped nearly 40
tons of high explosive, fragmen
tation, and incendiary-type
bombs on the runways and dis
persal areas at Lakunai, Vuna
kanau, and Rapopo.
One thousand-pound bombs caused
violent explosions, which indicated
hits on ammunition dumps.
Numerous large fires, visible 50
miles away, were started.
A number of small fires-more than
19, were actually counted-in
the dispersal bays, indicated
burning aircraft.
Several searchlights at Vunakanu
were simultaneously extinguished
by one bomb burst. Anti-aircraft
and searchlight defences were
active. Three enemy night
fighters attempting interception,
were driven off. All of our air
craft returned.
Gasmata,-.-One of our medium
night reconnaissancee units
bombed the aerodrome.
NORTH-WEST SECTOR
DUTCH NEW GUINEA (McCleur
Gulf).-One of our heavy units
on reconnaissance attacked a
4,000-ton enemy cargo ship en
tering Kokas Harbor. Damaging
close-misses in the stern with
500-lb. bombs left the ship sta
tionary in the water,
Sarong.--One of our heavy units
on reconnaissance, bombed the
town area and shipping in the
harbor. Large explosions and
fires near the jetty were caused.
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