Us Official Photographs

Bombs over Lae New Guinea

spots in middle right of picture, and in upper left, show still more bombs, which will explode a few feet above the ground, or on contact with terrific and devastating effect. (Photo No. 1 of 2) Order A-1035 WATCH YOUR CREDIT OFFICIAL U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS PHOTOS WASHINGTON, D.C. PARACHUTE BOMBS HIT NEW GUINEA JAPS One of the newest developments in air fighting is the use of the parachute bomb by American flyers. Bombs up to block-buster size may be floated slowly down over enemy installations, and either set to go off a short distance above the ground, or on the instant of contact. This multiplies the effect of the bomb several times, particularly in its anti-personnel effect, since the force of the blast is down, penetrating huts and fox holes, rather than up and sideways as in the case of the usual bomb. American airmen in New Guinea and other parts of the Southwest Pacific area are using this new bombing method against the Japanese with considerable success, and report that it is especially useful in wooded areas where snipers and other enemy installations are hidden. These photographs show an attack by parachute bombs dropped from American Liberator bombers on the Jap bases at Lae, New Guinea.