Evening star., 1943-01-02
Heavy Attacks
Launched by
u. 5. Air Forces
Zero lnterceptor
Boeged, Neor-Hit
Scored on Ship

The Navy reported today that
American air forces in the Pa
cific had opened the new year
yesterday with heavy attacks
against Japanese held Kiska Is
land in the Aleutians and Japa-
nese positions in the Solomon
Islands, including the area be-
lieved to be the headquarters Of
their force on Guadalcanal.
No Americans were lost in either
foray.
Consolidated bombers, escorted by
Lightning P-38) fighters, attacked
cargo ships in Kiska Harbor, scored
a near-hit on one small ship and
shot down one intercepting Zero
fighter, the Navys communique said.
1t added that clouds prevented COM
plete observation of results.
The same communique announced
additional raids on Munda Airfield
and on Kokumbono. believed to be
the japanese headquarters on Quad
alcanal.
Cargo Ships Targets.
The communique, No. 236, follows:
North Pacific:
Il. On January I, force of Lib
orator heavy bombers consolidated
B-24 escorted by Lightning fight
ers nockheed P-38 attacked jap
anese cargo ships in Kiska Harbor.
Six zeros attempted to intercept
the attack and one was shot down.
A near-hit was scored on one small
ship. Clouds prevented complete
observation of results. No United
States planes were lost.
80. On January L.
"ta) Dauntless dive bombers
douglas SBD) dropped bombs in
the vicinity of Kokumbono, where
japanese headquarters on Guadal-
canal Island are believed to be To-
Gated. Dense jungle growth pre-
vented observation of results.
"(b) Marauder medium bomb
ers Martin B-26), escorted by Aira-
cobra BELL P-39, Lightning and
Warhawk (Curtiss P-4O fighters,
bombed the Munda area of New
Georgia island. All United States
planes returned undamaged. Re-
suits of the raid were not reported" !"
Presumably the Zeros referred to
in todays communique were float
, type craft, since there has been no
evidence that the Japanese had
regular landing facilities for their
| fighters at Kiska. However this was
not definitely borne out by the COM
munique nor by reports otherwise
available to the Navy Department
and there remained possibility that
in strengthening their Kiska base,
as they appeared to have done, the
Japs have brought some regular
Zero fighters into use.
Curtiss Fighters Used.
This was the first mention of
Curtiss fighters in the Guadalcanal
area. Previously the fighter planes
there have been Airacobras and
Lightnings.
The report on the Kiska raid was
the second in as many days to men,
ton resistance by Japanese fighter
planes. Yesterday the Navy report
ed that on December 80 a raid was
intercepted by four Zero foat-type
planes which succeeded in shooting
down two Lightning fighters and
one of our medium bombers.
The regular Zeros are much
speedier and more maneuverable
than those fitted with floats, since
the floats are a considerable drag
on the planes performance.
The Guadalcanal dive bomber at
tack mentioned in the communicate
was one of many attacks which have
been made in the vicinity of Ko-
kumbono, but this was the first time
the Navy has said that enemy head
quarters were believed to be located
at that place, which is about 7 miles
west of the American held airfield.