Evening star., 1942-10-02
Six Zero Fighters
Shot Down by Army
In AIeution Isles

American planes and subma-
rlnes have smashed a total of IL
Japanese ships in recent actions
In the Aleutian Islands and the
Western Pacific, the Navy an
1lounced today.
Two japanese ships probably were
sunk. two others were damaged and
six Zero fighters were shot down in
a recent series of Army air attacks
against japanese in the Aleutians,
the Navy said.
Earlier the Navy announced that
United States submarines operating
in the Western Pacific had sunk
five more japanese ships, probably
sunk two others and damaged one.
Listed as probably sunk in the
Aleutian operations were subma-
rine and transport. Another
transport and a cargo ship were
damaged.
The only United States loss in the
actions was one fighter plane.
Total of 81 Ships Blasted.
Five actions in two day period
In the Aleutians raised the number
OF Jap ships which have been
blasted there to 13 sunk, three prob
ably sunk and 81 damaged-a total
of 81.
A raid on a transport near the
island of Attu indicated that the
Army's long range, four-engine
bombers had gone far afield from
the usual scene of their Aleutian
operations. Attu, which was the
first island reported occupied by the
japanese in early June, is the
westernmost of the Aleutians.
Recent operations had been con-
centrated in the vicinity of Kiska
where in the past two months both
Army and Navy planes and SUBJ
marines have kept the enemy under
a steady pounding even in the face
Of adverse weather conditions. fogs
being very common in the North
Pacific Islands.
North Pacific Action.
Navy Department communique.
No. 1877, said:
North Pacific
Il. On September q Army Lib
orator bombers dropped bombs on
enemy ships and shore installations
at Kiska. One Zero fighter was
shot down. Damage to bomb OBJ
lectives could not be determined.
All our planes returned.
.. On the same date near the
island of Attu three Army bombers
attacked a transport, escorted by a
destroyer. Near misses damaged
the transport which, when last
seen, had stopped.
"3, During the morning of Sep
tember % strong force of Army
heavy bombers, escorted by pursuit
craft, again bombed enemy ships
and buildings at Kiska. Zero fight
ers and aircraft batteries on
surface vessels attempted to repel
this attack. A transport and a
submarine were damaged and prob
ably sunk and five Zero fighters
were shot down. One of our pur-
suit planes was lost.
4. During the afternoon of Sep
tember 20 Army bombers again at
tackled the Kiska area, strafing and
bombing ships and shore facilities
Results Of this attack are not known.
IS. During the same afternoon
Army planes attacked an enemy
cargo ship northwest of Kiska. The
ship was bombed and strafed and
left in a damaged condition"
Earlier Communique.
Navy communique, No. 1876 said
Far East
Il. United States submarines
have reported the following results
OF operations against the enemy
in Far Eastern waters:
One large seaplane tender sunk
"One large cargo passenger ship
sunk
"One large freighter sunk.
Two medium sized cargo ships
sunk
Two medium sized cargo ships
damaged and probably sunk.
"One large tanker damaged.
q. These actions have not been
announced in any previous Navy
Department communique.'