Navy bombards Bougainville Striking with terrific forces just before and during the opening phases of the landing by U.S...

Navy bombards Bougainville Striking with terrific forces just before and during the opening phases of the landing by U.S. Marines on Bougainville Island, November 1, U.S. Navy forces struck at Buka Airfield, off the northern tip of Bougainville Island, the west coast of Bougainville, and the Shortland Islands. Both as diversionary actions and as destructive attacks the raids were successful, one 8,000-ton Jap transport being sunk and one giant sister-ship damages in one phase of the naval attacks. Planes of the units did much to neutralise Jap air forces in the vicinity, reducing their effectiveness in resisting the Marine landings. A long plume of black smoke marks the seaward plunge of the Jap plane, shot down by the deadly anti-aircraft fire of a task force off the coast of Bougainville.