Evening star., 1943-09-01
u. 5. Fighters Destroy
36 Jap zeros in Sky
Over KahiIi Airfie|d
EN The Associated press

b. the Associated Press
U. S. HEADQUARTERS IN THE
IS OU T H PACIFIC, Sept. l.
American fighters battled so tc
so Zeros which attempted tc
intercept an American attack
against Kahili airfleld on Bou-
gainville Island and destroyed &c
Of the enemy planes, a spokes
man at South Pacific Headquar-
ters disclosed today.
The air victory was achieved Mon
day by Corsair. Warhawk and Aira-
cobra fighter units. Our losses were
very light" the spokesman said.
Gen. MacArthur's comunique
reporting Mondays action said
our fighters Strafed airdrome dis
persal areas at Kahill, destroying
eight enemy planes on the
ground. There was no mention
of So enemy planes destroyed in
the air battle.)
Fought Over Kahili Field.
The fight took place over Kahili
Field, which is Japan's strongest and
largest remaining air base in the
Northern Solomon Islands. It is
being pounded daily by American
planes.
At the same time the spokesman
for Admiral William F. Halsey. jr.'s
command announced, I'VE had a
very good month in the air over the
Solomons.
He said total of 227 japanese
planes were knocked down during
August in the South Pacific by Army,
Navy and Marine planes and anti
aircraft defense. This was better
than five times the American losses.
he said.
For the first time South Pacific
headquarters disclosed a new Japa-
nese fighter plane, called Type 8.
had been in action in the South
Pacific area. One was shot down
In Mondays raid on Kahili air
drome.
Faster Than Zeros.
I'VE are seeing increasing num-
bers of the new Type 3s," the spokes-
man added" but so far there is no
reason to believe they are greatly
superior to the Zero"
The new plane has LIQUID
cooled, in-line motor and greater
speed and power than the zeros air
cooled, radial engine. The Type IS
are thought to have more armament
than the comparatively light
gunned zeros, according to infor-
nation here. Those shot down by
American pilots have not burned
and exploded like the Zero, indicat-
ing they may be equipped with
form of self-sealing gasoline tank,
such as used by Allied aircraft.
Marine flyers report American
Corsairs are superior thus far and
japanese pilots have been reluctant
to test the speedy new fighter in
single combat. Usually the enemy
remains in formations of four or
more and will not attack unless
American flyers are outnumbered
heavily.
Discussing the quality of Japanese
planes, the spokesman said there
was no indication the enemy was
short of metal or that the work.
manship in their planes was de-
teriorating.
Jap Construction Good.
On the contrary, Japanese plane
construction is still good" the
spokesman said.
The situation at recently-occupied
Vella Lavella, northwest of Kolom-
bangara Island, was termed satis-
factory. The few remaining Japa-
r1ese on the island were being hunt
ed down. The cleaning-up process
also was proceeding at Arundel
Island, south of Kolombangara,
which was occupied August 81. Most
Of the japanese fed from Arundel,
leaving behind several artillery
pieces.
Japanese barge traffic in the
Northern Solomons sea lanes has
not been choked off, but I'VE are
coping with it adequately" the
spokesman declared. He said barges
practically were the only form of
sea traffic remaining to the enemy
south of Rabaul, New Britain.
japanese warships, even light de-
stroyers, venture less frequently into
the Bougainville area, Admiral Hal
sey's spokesman said, because of
formidable American air strength
and the alertness of United States
naval forces.