Evening star., 1945-06-03
36 Enemy Aircraft
Shot or Damaged
In Raid on Bases

lIl1Idl Wlllldll T. adlSey, just
returned to action in the Pacific
with his Sd Fleet, sent carrier
planes against suicide plane
bases of the Japanese homeland
on Kyushu Island yesterday
while the American 10th Army
tore into disintegrating enemy
forces on Okinawa.
Today's feet communique reported
carrier planes of Admiral Halsey's
fleet, operating under Vice Admiral
John S. Mccain, shot down two
enemy planes, destroyed II on the
ground and damaged % more at
Miyazaki, Kokubu, Tushira, Kago-
shima and Chiran. Two enemy
surface craft were destroyed of the
coast.
The Tokyo radio reported that
approximately" 200 carrier based
aircraft, escorted by flying boats" !"
bombed and strafed air bases in
Southern Japan for two hours.
The broadcast said carrier-base
Wildcat and Corsair fighters came
over Southern Kyushu Island "in
10 formations" between am. and
10 am. q pm. to 9 pm. Friday.
Washington time). They also
"strafed trains"
Fleet Can Move Anywhere.
Admiral Halsey was disclosed yes
terday to have gone back into ac-
ton against the Japs. boasting his
fleet could move anywhere from the
North to South Pole and even, if
need be, into Tokyo Bay.
In the Okinawa campaign, now
in its closing phases, the 10th Army
divisions ranged below the col
lapsed Naha- -Yonabaru line yester-
day for general gains up to 1000
yards. They were backed by tanks
and heavy artillery, due to cessa-
ton of rainy weather which had
deluged Okinawa with 13 inches of
rain in 10 days.
Enemy resistance was moderate.
The Sd Fleets assault on enemy
suicide plane bases came at a time
when the Tokyo radio was trumpet
ing that huge successes had been
scored by such attacks on shipping
at Okinawa and that the attacks
would be stepped up. But Admiral
Chester w. Nimitz said today that
enemy air action through Friday
continued on q small scale as 1t had
the last few days.
Aground on Okinawa, in the west
coast sector southeast of fallen
Naha, the lst Marine Division yes
terday gained 1000 yards below
Shuri and crossed the Naha- -Yona-
baru east-west highway.
Village Of Chan Captured.
Near the center, the 96th 1nfan-
try Division captured the village of
Chan, which Is 2 miles below cap
tured Shuri and pushed on below
Chan toward the village of Terra.
The Yanks seized high ground near
Kamizato.
On the east coast, the 7th Infantry
Division pushed southwark in a
move aimed at cutting of the
Chinen Peninsula and reopening the
Nakagusuku harbor, once the an
chorage of the japanese fleet.
The. 7th captured the town of
Ogusuku, ~ miles south of occupied
Yonabaru and speared toward Shi-
naZato.
Meanwhile, the 77th Infantry Div
ision mopped up Japanese stragglers
around Shuri
japanese survivors Of the shat
tered Shuri line appearedNo be mus
tering large portion of their wan
ing strength for a last-stand de-
fense of Naha airf1eld, largest on
the island.
Sixth Marine Division patrols op-
Grating south of Kokubu River re-
ported that Naha Peninsula on the
west coast was "alive with enemy
troops" in the vicinity of the air.
field south of Naha.
Today's communique reported a
strike by Army Thunderbolts at
kyushu Friday preparatory to the Sd
Fleet assault.
Escort carrier planes Friday also
blasted SakiShima, southern most