Salt Lake Telegram | 1942-05-06 | Page 1 | U. S. Bombs Ruin Burma Airfield

I U UI S SI i BOMBS RUIN BURMA AIRFIELD 40 Japanese Planes Reported Destroyed NEW DELHI India May 6 UP United States heavy bomber forces lashed at airdrome airdrome airdrome air air- drome just north of Rangoon three times Wednesday morning following following following follow follow- ing up Monday nights night's furious attack attack attack at at- tack on the same objective in inI I which American sources said 40 J Japanese planes were d destroyed and 35 others damaged A from the headquarters headquarters headquarters head head- quarters of Major General Lewis LewisH H H. Brereton's command said three flights of American planes setting a new pace in almost continuous long distance attacks set fires which could be seen for 70 miles How successful these successive blows have been was indicated by Tuesdays Tuesday's official announcement that 70 Japanese planes were known to be be at this field and Wednesdays Wednesday's unofficial report that already 65 of them had been de destroyed destroyed destroyed de- de or seriously damaged and anda a gasoline dump and hangars wiped out Sweeping undamaged ed through heavy antiaircraft fire and the attack of at least eight Japanese fighter planes big bombers Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wed Wed- plunked pound bombs into the center of fires and explosions explosions explosions set in the previous raids The R RAF A F timing its blows with the American attack struck Continued on Page Pa Five Column Two Ui US SM S. BOMBS RUIN BURMA AIRFIELD Con Continued from rage Page One Ont anew at barges bringing Japanese war material and perhaps troops I up the river on the I Burma front miles to the north There was no word from the eastern end of the Burma front where the Chinese forces at last report were fighting the Japanese who had thrust across the border into Chinas China's province As the main British forces fell back a military commentator said that they might have to abandon some of their heavier equipment but that they were in no greater danger of entrapment than for the past three days However it w was wa's s conceded that the Japanese may eventually cut them off despite the heroic aid of civilian pilots flying troops and civilians out in unarmed transport planes shuttling shuttling shuttling shut shut- between India and the front Meanwhile imperial Japanese headquarters in Tokyo announced the capture of airfield on the Burma India border slightly more than miles airline from Calcutta was the last Burma port I in British hands i I