U.S. bombers blast Japs in Gilberts, Bangkok, Kiska
Approach to Truk Island base heavily damaged; capitals of Thailand, Burma raided
By the United Press
U.S. planes have struck at the Japanese Pacific bases from the Equator to the Aleutian chain in the Far North and on the mainland of Asia.
The Navy announced today that a heavy bomber force caused great damage to enemy installations on Nauru Island in the Gilbert group, one of the fringe of islands guarding the southeastern approach to the big Jap naval base at Truk. At least five enemy planes were shot down without loss to the Americans.
Other planes raided Kiska in the Aleutians 10 times on Tuesday to bring the month’s score to 113 attacks and bombed Numa Numa Harbor of Bougainville Island in the Solomons.
U.S. bombers raided Bangkok, the Thai capital, and Rangoon, capital of Burma. British planes attacked enemy-held villages and troops in the Arakan district of Burma.
Devastating attack on Gilbert isle
Washington (UP) –
The Navy announced today that a large force of U.S. Army bombers has delivered another devastating attack on Nauru Island, a Japanese base in the Gilbert group guarding one of the approaches to the enemy’s naval stronghold at Truk.
The attack was carried out in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and fighter plane interception.
The Navy’s bulletin reported:
Much damage was done to Japanese installations.
Five and possibly seven defending Zero fighters were shot down during the attack, the second on that base in nearly a month. All our planes returned.
Meanwhile, American fliers in the Aleutians continued their smashing offensive against Kiska, hitting the enemy base 10 times Tuesday to raise the April raid score to 113.
Nauru, formerly under British mandate, is the site of some of the world’s biggest phosphate deposits. It is 675 miles northeast of Guadalcanal and 1,020 miles southeast of Truk. It was assumed that the attacking planes operated from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.
Solomons harbor hit
The Navy communiqué also reported a raid by heavy bombers on Numa Numa Harbor, Bougainville Island, in the northwestern Solomons. Bad weather prevented observation of results.
The Navy did not say what particular objective the Army bombers sought on Nauru, but it was believed the raid may have been aimed at hampering Jap efforts to obtain phosphate needed by the enemy’s war industry.
Nauru was last attacked March 26 when Liberator bombers attacked installations there. Hits were scored on the wharf, runways, officer’s quarters and barracks. Four fires were started and several enemy planes were damaged.
Yank fliers bomb capital of Thailand
New Delhi, India (UP) –
Liberator bombers of the U.S. 10th Air Force attacked Bangkok, capital of Thailand, early yesterday, dropping explosives on Jap-held military objectives, a communiqué revealed today.
Unfavorable weather conditions over the capital obscured the results of the attack.
Other U.S. heavy bombers carried out an early morning raid on Jap installations at Rangoon, the Burmese capital, but there, too, clouds prevented an accurate accounting of the results.
Mitchell medium bombers carried on the offensive by daylight, striking at railroad installations in the Maymyo area of Burma.
Curtiss P-40 fighters operating over northwestern Burma attacked Jap stores and troops at Hpunginzup and Kamaing.
Another communiqué said the Royal Air Force bombed four villages in the Arakan district of western Burma, starting fires and inflicting casualties on the Japs.