Greg Boeser
1st Lieutenant
Another possibility to explain the peculiar number of bombs dropped is that the bomb shackles often malfunctioned, leaving bombs in the racks. This was fairly common.
The real combat history of the P-39 Airacobra in the Pacific (1 Viewer)
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Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
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Definitely true, comes up all the time in the Claringbould books. In fact that happened to the commander on the P-40 mission (with his external fuel tank) on this same day.
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Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
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- Sep 29, 2025
So Ok, back to the operational history.
To wrap up with the convoy, in spite of two transport ships ultimately being sunk and several damaged by bombing, the mission to Lae was considered a success. 4,000 hard core IJA troops were landed on the island along with artillery and considerable supplies. Supplies and some new mechanics, comprising substantial support for fighter operations at the Lae airfields, were also landed. The Japanese now had a (for the Allies) ominously large military presence within striking distance of their mid-island mountain strongpoints around Wau.
9 Jan, 1943
The convoy slipped away to the north through Huon Gulf, and though attacked again overnight by RAAF PBYs from Cairns escaped unscathed. They were spotted by 5th Air Force reconnaissance around dawn. Meanwhile a large raid against Lae was prepared at Port Moresby consisting of 11 x A-20A, 12 x B-25 and 8 x B-26s, escorted by 8 x P-38s from 39th FS and 24 x P-40s from 7th and 8th FS, 49th FG, with 6 of the Warhawks again carrying bombs. Four of the B-26s (apparently newly arrived B-26Bs) aborted due to mechanical problems. The A-20s attacked first with light bombs and parafrags at 07:55, the B-26s dropped 300 lb bombs, then B-25s which reported being attacked by four Oscars (but apparently without much enthusiasm). One Oscar was caught taking off by an A-20 and shot to pieces while taxiing. The P-38s spotted four Oscars but did not engage them. The P-40s dropped bombs and then engaged two "Haps" (meaing A6M3) without making any claims or taking losses. B-17s then came and dropped bombs.
Around 0900 B-24s located the Convoy and attacked with 500 bombs amid rain squalls. They were attacked by Oscars but took nor inflicted any losses or serious damage. At 1000 four B-17s attacked the Convoy with 500 and 1,000 lb bombs amid deteriorating and heavy weather and skirmished with the Oscars. Another flight of B-24s then followed just as the B-17s were leaving another group of B-24s arrived and dropped more 500 and 1,000 lb bombs. Oscars attacked making frontal passes and B-24D Little Eva was damaged with no 2 and 3 engine shot out and the pilot killed. Ultimately this B-24 ditched and only the co-pilot Lt Norman D Smith survived. After nine days on a raft he was rescued by natives and made it back to Port Moresby. In the evening 12 x B-25s escorted by 12 x P-38s from 39 FS tried to find the ships but failed amid very bad weather.
US losses: 1 x B-24D shot down by Oscars
Japanese losses: 1 x Ki-43-I shot down by an A-20 while taking off
17 Jan
The next significant day of air combat took place ten days after the convoy, on 17 Jan. The IJN launched a major raid against Allied bases near Milne Bay. This area was protected by the 8th FG flying Airacobras, a mix of P-400s, P-39Ds, and a few later model P-39s. The raid started with 24 x G4M "Betty" bombers escorted by a formidable 48 x A6Ms, led by Lieutenant Commander Mihara Genichi, his presence representing a high priority mission. 4 of the Betty's had to return due to mechanical problems. At 1220 the Zeros led the attack on an "air annihilation" fighter sweep which ran into no opposition, followed by 20 Bettys. 27 x Airacobras from 8th FG were scrambled, but were slow to climb and some apparently had non-functional radios which made vectoring by ground control difficult. The Bettys bombed from 24,000 ft unmolested, releasing 273 x 60 kilogram bombs on Turnbull strip. The bombing was very accurate in spite of the light bombs and 3 x B-17s, 1 x B-24, 2 x Airacobra, 1 x Hudson were destroyed, as were six trucks. Another 6 x Hudsons were significantly damaged. Few personnel were killed as they had been warned in time.
6 x Airacobras finally reached the altitude of the G4Ms as they were retreating, with four Bettys receiving minor damage before the Airacobras had to break off due to lack of fuel and being attacked by the Zero escorts. One Airacobra crash landed but this was not reported as a combat loss. One A6M was also lost in mysterious circumstances. Worth noting that Claringbould points out there was a severe Malaria outbreak at Milne Bay at this time, affecting the pilots stationed there. As a result of the bombing damage the B-17 unit was moved back to the Port Moreseby area.
US Losses: 3 x B-17s, 1 x B-24, 2 x Airacobra, 1 x Hudson were destroyed on the ground by bombs. Another 6 x Hudsons significantly damaged. One Airacobra crash landed for unknown reasons.
Japanese Losses: 1 x A6M missing for unknown reasons.
18 Jan -5 Feb
Around this same time the Japanese were making an attempt to build an overland road from Madang to the isolated position at Lae. This involved in sending some convoys to Wewak and some other Japanese positions north and west of Lae, which was interdicted by US long range planes and submarines, notably the USS Wahoo which torpedoed and badly damaged the Japanese destroyer Harusame from the first convoy, which beached itself (stern first!) to prevent being sunk and later sinking the Nichiryu Maru. The Japanese then dispatched the IJN light carrier Junyo, which transported 12 x A6M2 Zeros and 6 x B5N2 Kates to Wewak to help protect the site. These clashed with long range B-24 flights over the next few days.
Meanwhile troops from Lae were now advancing up steep and treacherous jungle trails toward the tiny Australian outpost at Wau. The march was arduous and perilous under brutal conditions and was delayed by the difficulty in supplying the troops, who were carrying their own food etc. This gave the Allies some time to organize a defense, which consisted of flying in troops from the Australian 17th Bde using transport planes. Initially this was only 14 x C-47s and some smaller planes like Dragon Rapides, making the airlift difficult, but the entire unit was flown in by 19 Jan. The Allies were receiving 52 x C-47s in four new squadrons, which, though flown by green pilots, proved vital to the defense of Wau once the Japanese finally attacked starting on 29 Jan.
The Allies kept up pressure on Lae with frequent attacks, rendering it largely unused by the Japanese. Air combat in the areas around Wewak and Wau gradually heated up, with US heavy bombers clashing with Oscars and Zeros, 2 x B-24s being lost and 4 x Zeros from Junyo near Wewak. Finally on 6 Feb the IJA launched a large bombing raid on Wau amid the ground fighting, which the Australian Kanga Forces won, fending off the Japanese army soldiers with the help of close air support by Airacobras, Wirraways, Beaufighters, and with 25 pounder howitzers and reinforcements and supplies brought in by C-47s and other planes.
6 Feb
Fighting around Wau was considered largely over by the time the Japanese sent a major raid. On 5 Feb 30 x Ki-43-Is from the JAAF 11 Hiko Sentai flew into Lae under cover of darkness. On the morning of 6 Feb these made rendezvous with 8 x Ki-48 'Lily' bombers (a mix of Ki-48-I and some much improved Ki-48-IIs) and these arrived over Wau at 1030. The Allies were caught off guard with 5 x C-47s in a landing pattern circling over the small airstrip, three of which were immediately attacked by Oscars, as the Lilys bombed from a low altitude of 3,000 ft, destroying a Wirraway on the runway. One C-47 Early Delivery was quickly shot down by the Oscars and crashed into a hill with all crew KiA. Two others escaped as US fighters arrived. 8 x 7th FS, 49th FG P-40s were escorting newly arrived C-47s, with 8 x Airacobras from 40th and 41st FS came behind them escorting another trio of C-47s, followed by 13 x P-38s from 39th FS which had been sent as top cover.
29 Allied fighters then engaged 30 x Oscars, diving in from above. In the ensuing combat, the Allied fighter pilots claimed 23 victories. Actual losses were 4 x Ki-43-I including the commander Major Siguira. Three of these were shot down by either the P-40s or Airacobras, with the fourth chased out to sea and shot down by P-38s which kept to a higher altitude. 3 x K-48s were also shot down by either Airacobras or P-40s. Claringbould makes no attempt to distinguish which unit claimed which victories, or even list the victories claimed by unit or type, so there is no knowning based on current information which units got the kills. The Wiki on the battle of Wau credits one victory to the P-38s and three victories to the P-40s, FWIW. But in any event, no Allied fighters were lost. An unlucky A-20 flying on a mission toward Lae was caught by the retreating Oscars and shot down.
US Losses: A-20A shot down by Oscars, Wirraway destroyed on the ground by bombs
Japanese Losses: 4 x Ki-43-I, 3 x Ki-48
7 - 28 Feb
Over the next few weeks ground fighting diminished as the Japanese regrouped and considered their next move. Two RAAF Kittyhawk squadrons, 75 and 77 Sqn equipped with P-40 Kittyhawks replaced the beleaguered Airacobras of 8th FG at Milne Bay. These were rotated out of the area for rest though 80th FS from that group immediately started converting to P-38s. The 9th FS of the 49th FG also began to convert from P-40s to P-38s while still at Port Morseby, increasing the availability of the latter very useful type. The IJA meanwhile decided to bring in their 41st Infantry Division from China to Wewak, consisting of 13,000 troops plus an independent engineer regiment and a field hospital. This was divided into four convoys made up of relatively fast converted military ships like seaplane tenders, sub tenders, gunboats and merchant cruisers, escorted by two light cruisers and two destroyers. The important convoy was protected by the Japanese carrier Zuiho, which flew in 20 x A6Ms and 12 x B5N to Wewak for temporary duty there. The job of the B5Ns was mainly anti submarine patrol.
The convoy was detected and photographed by US F-4 (P-38) reconnaissance plane on 24 Feb. Starting on the 25th US heavy bombers attacked Wewak but did not manage to intercept the convoys. Japanese destroyers also brought aviation fuel to Madang. Meanwhile the Japanese were still trying to build the overland road to Lae, but with little success. Rabaul decided a second Lae convoy would be needed to reinforce the airfield and the starving IJA troops still around Salamaua. A strong convoy of 8 x IJA transport ships carrying 7,000 troops plus supplies, escorted by 8 x IJN Destroyers was assembled at Rabaul by 28 Feb. Half of the transports were slow older types, half were relatively modern and faster.
Meanwhile the 5th AF was practicing mast-head and skip bombing on the wreck of the Pruth near Port Morseby. Some A-20s and B-25s had now been converted to strafers by Pappy Gunn with the solid noses packed with heavy machine guns. New strategies of coordinated attacks using strafers, skip bombers and mast-head bombers were being fine tuned.
Next... the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
To wrap up with the convoy, in spite of two transport ships ultimately being sunk and several damaged by bombing, the mission to Lae was considered a success. 4,000 hard core IJA troops were landed on the island along with artillery and considerable supplies. Supplies and some new mechanics, comprising substantial support for fighter operations at the Lae airfields, were also landed. The Japanese now had a (for the Allies) ominously large military presence within striking distance of their mid-island mountain strongpoints around Wau.
9 Jan, 1943
The convoy slipped away to the north through Huon Gulf, and though attacked again overnight by RAAF PBYs from Cairns escaped unscathed. They were spotted by 5th Air Force reconnaissance around dawn. Meanwhile a large raid against Lae was prepared at Port Moresby consisting of 11 x A-20A, 12 x B-25 and 8 x B-26s, escorted by 8 x P-38s from 39th FS and 24 x P-40s from 7th and 8th FS, 49th FG, with 6 of the Warhawks again carrying bombs. Four of the B-26s (apparently newly arrived B-26Bs) aborted due to mechanical problems. The A-20s attacked first with light bombs and parafrags at 07:55, the B-26s dropped 300 lb bombs, then B-25s which reported being attacked by four Oscars (but apparently without much enthusiasm). One Oscar was caught taking off by an A-20 and shot to pieces while taxiing. The P-38s spotted four Oscars but did not engage them. The P-40s dropped bombs and then engaged two "Haps" (meaing A6M3) without making any claims or taking losses. B-17s then came and dropped bombs.
Around 0900 B-24s located the Convoy and attacked with 500 bombs amid rain squalls. They were attacked by Oscars but took nor inflicted any losses or serious damage. At 1000 four B-17s attacked the Convoy with 500 and 1,000 lb bombs amid deteriorating and heavy weather and skirmished with the Oscars. Another flight of B-24s then followed just as the B-17s were leaving another group of B-24s arrived and dropped more 500 and 1,000 lb bombs. Oscars attacked making frontal passes and B-24D Little Eva was damaged with no 2 and 3 engine shot out and the pilot killed. Ultimately this B-24 ditched and only the co-pilot Lt Norman D Smith survived. After nine days on a raft he was rescued by natives and made it back to Port Moresby. In the evening 12 x B-25s escorted by 12 x P-38s from 39 FS tried to find the ships but failed amid very bad weather.
US losses: 1 x B-24D shot down by Oscars
Japanese losses: 1 x Ki-43-I shot down by an A-20 while taking off
17 Jan
The next significant day of air combat took place ten days after the convoy, on 17 Jan. The IJN launched a major raid against Allied bases near Milne Bay. This area was protected by the 8th FG flying Airacobras, a mix of P-400s, P-39Ds, and a few later model P-39s. The raid started with 24 x G4M "Betty" bombers escorted by a formidable 48 x A6Ms, led by Lieutenant Commander Mihara Genichi, his presence representing a high priority mission. 4 of the Betty's had to return due to mechanical problems. At 1220 the Zeros led the attack on an "air annihilation" fighter sweep which ran into no opposition, followed by 20 Bettys. 27 x Airacobras from 8th FG were scrambled, but were slow to climb and some apparently had non-functional radios which made vectoring by ground control difficult. The Bettys bombed from 24,000 ft unmolested, releasing 273 x 60 kilogram bombs on Turnbull strip. The bombing was very accurate in spite of the light bombs and 3 x B-17s, 1 x B-24, 2 x Airacobra, 1 x Hudson were destroyed, as were six trucks. Another 6 x Hudsons were significantly damaged. Few personnel were killed as they had been warned in time.
6 x Airacobras finally reached the altitude of the G4Ms as they were retreating, with four Bettys receiving minor damage before the Airacobras had to break off due to lack of fuel and being attacked by the Zero escorts. One Airacobra crash landed but this was not reported as a combat loss. One A6M was also lost in mysterious circumstances. Worth noting that Claringbould points out there was a severe Malaria outbreak at Milne Bay at this time, affecting the pilots stationed there. As a result of the bombing damage the B-17 unit was moved back to the Port Moreseby area.
US Losses: 3 x B-17s, 1 x B-24, 2 x Airacobra, 1 x Hudson were destroyed on the ground by bombs. Another 6 x Hudsons significantly damaged. One Airacobra crash landed for unknown reasons.
Japanese Losses: 1 x A6M missing for unknown reasons.
18 Jan -5 Feb
Around this same time the Japanese were making an attempt to build an overland road from Madang to the isolated position at Lae. This involved in sending some convoys to Wewak and some other Japanese positions north and west of Lae, which was interdicted by US long range planes and submarines, notably the USS Wahoo which torpedoed and badly damaged the Japanese destroyer Harusame from the first convoy, which beached itself (stern first!) to prevent being sunk and later sinking the Nichiryu Maru. The Japanese then dispatched the IJN light carrier Junyo, which transported 12 x A6M2 Zeros and 6 x B5N2 Kates to Wewak to help protect the site. These clashed with long range B-24 flights over the next few days.
Meanwhile troops from Lae were now advancing up steep and treacherous jungle trails toward the tiny Australian outpost at Wau. The march was arduous and perilous under brutal conditions and was delayed by the difficulty in supplying the troops, who were carrying their own food etc. This gave the Allies some time to organize a defense, which consisted of flying in troops from the Australian 17th Bde using transport planes. Initially this was only 14 x C-47s and some smaller planes like Dragon Rapides, making the airlift difficult, but the entire unit was flown in by 19 Jan. The Allies were receiving 52 x C-47s in four new squadrons, which, though flown by green pilots, proved vital to the defense of Wau once the Japanese finally attacked starting on 29 Jan.
The Allies kept up pressure on Lae with frequent attacks, rendering it largely unused by the Japanese. Air combat in the areas around Wewak and Wau gradually heated up, with US heavy bombers clashing with Oscars and Zeros, 2 x B-24s being lost and 4 x Zeros from Junyo near Wewak. Finally on 6 Feb the IJA launched a large bombing raid on Wau amid the ground fighting, which the Australian Kanga Forces won, fending off the Japanese army soldiers with the help of close air support by Airacobras, Wirraways, Beaufighters, and with 25 pounder howitzers and reinforcements and supplies brought in by C-47s and other planes.
6 Feb
Fighting around Wau was considered largely over by the time the Japanese sent a major raid. On 5 Feb 30 x Ki-43-Is from the JAAF 11 Hiko Sentai flew into Lae under cover of darkness. On the morning of 6 Feb these made rendezvous with 8 x Ki-48 'Lily' bombers (a mix of Ki-48-I and some much improved Ki-48-IIs) and these arrived over Wau at 1030. The Allies were caught off guard with 5 x C-47s in a landing pattern circling over the small airstrip, three of which were immediately attacked by Oscars, as the Lilys bombed from a low altitude of 3,000 ft, destroying a Wirraway on the runway. One C-47 Early Delivery was quickly shot down by the Oscars and crashed into a hill with all crew KiA. Two others escaped as US fighters arrived. 8 x 7th FS, 49th FG P-40s were escorting newly arrived C-47s, with 8 x Airacobras from 40th and 41st FS came behind them escorting another trio of C-47s, followed by 13 x P-38s from 39th FS which had been sent as top cover.
29 Allied fighters then engaged 30 x Oscars, diving in from above. In the ensuing combat, the Allied fighter pilots claimed 23 victories. Actual losses were 4 x Ki-43-I including the commander Major Siguira. Three of these were shot down by either the P-40s or Airacobras, with the fourth chased out to sea and shot down by P-38s which kept to a higher altitude. 3 x K-48s were also shot down by either Airacobras or P-40s. Claringbould makes no attempt to distinguish which unit claimed which victories, or even list the victories claimed by unit or type, so there is no knowning based on current information which units got the kills. The Wiki on the battle of Wau credits one victory to the P-38s and three victories to the P-40s, FWIW. But in any event, no Allied fighters were lost. An unlucky A-20 flying on a mission toward Lae was caught by the retreating Oscars and shot down.
US Losses: A-20A shot down by Oscars, Wirraway destroyed on the ground by bombs
Japanese Losses: 4 x Ki-43-I, 3 x Ki-48
7 - 28 Feb
Over the next few weeks ground fighting diminished as the Japanese regrouped and considered their next move. Two RAAF Kittyhawk squadrons, 75 and 77 Sqn equipped with P-40 Kittyhawks replaced the beleaguered Airacobras of 8th FG at Milne Bay. These were rotated out of the area for rest though 80th FS from that group immediately started converting to P-38s. The 9th FS of the 49th FG also began to convert from P-40s to P-38s while still at Port Morseby, increasing the availability of the latter very useful type. The IJA meanwhile decided to bring in their 41st Infantry Division from China to Wewak, consisting of 13,000 troops plus an independent engineer regiment and a field hospital. This was divided into four convoys made up of relatively fast converted military ships like seaplane tenders, sub tenders, gunboats and merchant cruisers, escorted by two light cruisers and two destroyers. The important convoy was protected by the Japanese carrier Zuiho, which flew in 20 x A6Ms and 12 x B5N to Wewak for temporary duty there. The job of the B5Ns was mainly anti submarine patrol.
The convoy was detected and photographed by US F-4 (P-38) reconnaissance plane on 24 Feb. Starting on the 25th US heavy bombers attacked Wewak but did not manage to intercept the convoys. Japanese destroyers also brought aviation fuel to Madang. Meanwhile the Japanese were still trying to build the overland road to Lae, but with little success. Rabaul decided a second Lae convoy would be needed to reinforce the airfield and the starving IJA troops still around Salamaua. A strong convoy of 8 x IJA transport ships carrying 7,000 troops plus supplies, escorted by 8 x IJN Destroyers was assembled at Rabaul by 28 Feb. Half of the transports were slow older types, half were relatively modern and faster.
Meanwhile the 5th AF was practicing mast-head and skip bombing on the wreck of the Pruth near Port Morseby. Some A-20s and B-25s had now been converted to strafers by Pappy Gunn with the solid noses packed with heavy machine guns. New strategies of coordinated attacks using strafers, skip bombers and mast-head bombers were being fine tuned.
Next... the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Last edited:
Greg Boeser
1st Lieutenant
The January 9 mission was the last for the B-26s until July. The aircraft were too war weary to continue. The survivors would be completely overhauled over the next several months, stripped of their camo. Some were reassigned as "fat cats" to various units. The most combat worthy were consolidated in the 19th Bomb Squadron. Known as the Silver Fleet they would fly operationally from July 1943 until January 1944, when all early B-26s and B-26Bs in theater were scrapped. Marauders would not fly combat in the Pacific again, but TB-26s/ AT-23s and JM-1 and -2s would fly on with AAF tow target squadrons and Navy utility squadrons until the end of the war.
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Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
- 1,069
- Sep 29, 2025
March 1, 1943
The JAAF got ready for their second Lae convoy. Fatally, their Convoy included some slow ships so the whole fleet would have to sail at the plodding pace of the slowest vessel, a miserable 7 knots. One has to wonder what might have happened if they had got faster vessels such as those they used to resupply Wewak a couple of weeks earlier. The 1st and 11th Hiko Sentai Oscars would patrol the coast of New Britain from Lae and protect the convoy from Allied air strikes in the afternoon, with IJN Zeros flying missions from Rabaul and Lae in the morning. Advanced bases were set up at Lae and Malahang to coordinate the air defense, and the commanders of these two units flew in to these bases to personally lead combat air patrols.
The Second Lae Convoy was first sighted by the Allies on 1 March at 1600 by a 321st BS Libertator "Miss Deed" from 30,000 ft. The first strike consisting of 8 x B-17s from 63rd BS was launched but they failed to find the Convoy in the gathering dusk and dropped their bombs uneventfully at Gasmata before returning to Port Moresby.
2 March, The Battle of the Bismark Sea, day 1
More B-17s shadowing the Convoy reported their position in the pre-dawn. The first action of the day was a strike on Lae at 0520, consisting of 6 x RAAF Boston IIIs from No 22 Sqn. They dropped bombs all over the field and strafed the AA positions but could not spot any of the well camouflaged JAAF aircraft on the base. Squalls along the coast of New Britain obscured the target making follow up reconnaissance difficult, but the first strike was launched anyway consisting of 25 x B-17s from three squadrons carrying 1,000 lb bombs departed Seven Mile field at Port Morseby right about dawn. They missed the rendezvous with their escorts of P-38s from 9th FS / 49th FG and 39th FS but continued on to the target regardless.
They were being hunted through the thick clouds by a Shotai of Zeros, but evaded them in the grey mist. Clouds suddenly parted for one of the three groups of B-17s from the 63rd BS, revealing the ships with no Zeros in sight and the AAA crews on the Destroyers seemingly asleep at the wheel. The B-17s quickly descended from 5,000 to 1,000 ft and made their run. With minimal AA and no fighters to dissuade them, they scored hits on the Teiyo Maru and the Kyokusei Maru, and a near miss on the Kenbu Maru. Kyokusei Maru was hit with two 1,000 lbs and was on fire and lagging behind the convoy, though the other two ships were able to keep up. This must have been so satisfying for the B-17 crews.
Their joy was short lived though as the Shotai of Zeros from 253 Ku suddenly arrived and pounced on the B-17s. B-17s Lulu Belle and Old Baldy were both seriously damaged with wounded crew right away, but all the heavy bombers made it back to base (one of the pilots mentioned his uneasy view of 20' brown sharks in the seas below them as they fled in their badly damaged aircraft). The other two B-17 groups from the 64th and 65th BS then saw the Convoy through another gap in the clouds, but were attacked by the Zeros, while the AAA finally came to life and the ships began steaming in circles to avoid bombs. The escort of 16 Lightnings arrived by this time and engaged the Zeros briefly, though due to being short on fuel they had to RTB shortly after arriving, while the bombers dropped their bombs from 4,000-7,000 ft, damaging Tiyo Maru and Nojima with near misses, causing a few dozen casualties.
At the same time, 2 x B-24s which were doing an armed reconnaissance spotted the Convoy and dropped 12 x 1,000 lb bombs before being briefly attacked by a single "Zeke" and driven off. One of three G4M Betty bombers which was flying reconnaissance and ASW over the Convoy got into a brief exchange of gunfire with a B-17.
From the fighting so far, three more B-17s were significantly damaged, for a total of five, one A6M was missing, another was damaged and tried to make it back to Gasmata but ditched just offshore. This CAP patrol of 12 Zeros then landed at Gasmata, and reported expending 1,080 rounds of 20mm and 10,800 rounds of 7.7mm during the fighting.
Kyosei Maru was still burning and suffering from multiple explosions resulting from the first B-17 strike and now began to sink, going down at 1125 with 485 IJA infantry and sailors going with the ship, 831 being rescued by the destroyers. A new group of 15 x A6Ms patrolled over the Convoy for the next few hours before returning to Rabaul at 1500. The next patrol was of Oscars from 1st Hiko Sentai. A new group of 9 x B-17s from the 43rd BG arrived at 1815 carrying 1,000 lb bombs. They were intercepted by 13 x Ki-43-I. One B-17 was badly damaged but all managed to get back to base.
Allied losses: None (six B-17s damaged)
Japanese losses: 2 x A6M
3 March, Battle of the Bismarck Sea, day 2
The Convoy was attacked by 2 x RAAF PBYs Catalinas which scored some near misses. The Convoy was being slowed down by a disastrous current, dropping down to 4-5 knots, just as the sky began to clear and they were coming into the strike range of the light and medium bombers from Port Moresby.
A pre-dawn strike of 8 x RAAF Beauforts from 110 Sqn carrying torpedoes flew through a heavy storm completely blind on instruments, and became increasingly disoriented. Two Beauforts finally emerged into a clear space just in time to see the Convoy, one launching a torpedo at a 'cruiser' (one of the IJN Destroyers) but missing, while the other tried to launch at a ship which seemed to be standing still (due to the current) but the torpedo wouldn't release (yet another example of faulty ordinance release mechanisms!)
A second pre-dawn strike was launched by 5 x RAAF Boston IIIs from 22 Sqn against Lae, but two had to turn back due to mechanical problems, only three bombed and strafed the airfield.
A much larger strike was coming together around Port Moresby's six airfields. IJN Zeros were flying CAP over the Convoy as a massive strike group consisting of 28 x P-38s from 9th and 39th FS, 17 x B-17s, 33 x B-25s from four squadrons, 12 x RAAF Beaufighters from 30 Sqn, and 12 x A-20As from 89th BS. Some of the B-25s and all of the A-20s had modified gun-noses for strafing. 21 of the B-25s were configured for level bombing, 12 were modified for strafing and skip or mast-head bombing together with the Beaufighters and A-20s. This massive formation of 100 aircraft formed up at 0930 at Cape Ward Hunt and then proceeded toward the target. The level bombers were at 9,000 ft while the strafers / skip bombers were at 5,000 ft, and the P-38s were at 15,000 ft.
The strike arrived at roughly 1000 hours, and began attacking for the next 25 minutes. The Beaufighters - whose squadron radio chatter was being broadcast around the RAAF base for everyone to listen to by a speaker, came in guns blazing to suppress the AAA. The low level strafers consisting of 12 x A-20As from 89th BS and 12 B-25C-1 from 90th BS came in next, guns also blazing and carrying 500 lb bombs. Releasing their bombs from barely above sea level, they recorded scoring twenty hits from 24 bombs released at six targets. One A-20 dented a wing on the mast as it flew over a vessel. The strafers later were recorded to have expended 17,000 0.5" rounds during this attack.
The small Kenbu Maru was hit and immediately exploded with it's load of aviation fuel creating a massive fireball. Several other transports were clearly also hit. All of the B-17s then swept over the convoy dropping 64 x 1,000 lb bombs from 6,000-7,000 ft, claiming four hits. This was followed by more B-25s dropping bombs from about 5,000 ft. A lone B-24 on armed reconnaissance also dropped four 500 lbs from higher altitude but missed.
CAP assigned to protect the convoy consisted of 41 x A6M Zeros ( 15 x A6M2 from the Zuiho, 14 x A6M3 from 253 Ku, and 12 x A6M3 from 204 Ku). All three squadrons had launched and were approaching the Convoy from different directions just as the Allied strike attacked it. They were faced with 28 x P-38s, though one, the commander of the 9th FS force, had to return to Port Moresby when one of his external tanks would not release, leaving 27 flying at between 14,000- 16,000 ft. The P-38s and Zeros got into a large dogfight. 3 x P-38Fs from 39th FS being shot down within the first half hour of fighting. 3 x A6M were also shot down, one from the Zuiho and two from 204 Ku.
After tangling with the P-38 escort several of the Zeros broke through to attack the Allied bombers, with Zeros from the Zuiho and 204 Ku going after the level bombers and 253 Ku going after the strafer / skip bombers. In the resulting combat, one A6M apparently collided with a B-17 called Double Trouble aka Ka Puhio Wela. Both the A6M and the B-17 went down, most of it's crew bailed out but were strafed by Zeros (both sides did this kind of thing in this Theater). Other Zeros claimed three A-20s but none were actually lost. One Beaufighter was shot up badly by a Zero but managed to crash land near Dobodura and the crew survived. A B-25 was shot up but also made it back to base, however it crash landed killing one crew.
Allied Losses: 3 x P-38F, 1 x B-17, 1 x B-25, 1 x Beaufighter. Plus 8 transport ships.
Japanaese Losses: 3 x A6M
The JAAF got ready for their second Lae convoy. Fatally, their Convoy included some slow ships so the whole fleet would have to sail at the plodding pace of the slowest vessel, a miserable 7 knots. One has to wonder what might have happened if they had got faster vessels such as those they used to resupply Wewak a couple of weeks earlier. The 1st and 11th Hiko Sentai Oscars would patrol the coast of New Britain from Lae and protect the convoy from Allied air strikes in the afternoon, with IJN Zeros flying missions from Rabaul and Lae in the morning. Advanced bases were set up at Lae and Malahang to coordinate the air defense, and the commanders of these two units flew in to these bases to personally lead combat air patrols.
The Second Lae Convoy was first sighted by the Allies on 1 March at 1600 by a 321st BS Libertator "Miss Deed" from 30,000 ft. The first strike consisting of 8 x B-17s from 63rd BS was launched but they failed to find the Convoy in the gathering dusk and dropped their bombs uneventfully at Gasmata before returning to Port Moresby.
2 March, The Battle of the Bismark Sea, day 1
More B-17s shadowing the Convoy reported their position in the pre-dawn. The first action of the day was a strike on Lae at 0520, consisting of 6 x RAAF Boston IIIs from No 22 Sqn. They dropped bombs all over the field and strafed the AA positions but could not spot any of the well camouflaged JAAF aircraft on the base. Squalls along the coast of New Britain obscured the target making follow up reconnaissance difficult, but the first strike was launched anyway consisting of 25 x B-17s from three squadrons carrying 1,000 lb bombs departed Seven Mile field at Port Morseby right about dawn. They missed the rendezvous with their escorts of P-38s from 9th FS / 49th FG and 39th FS but continued on to the target regardless.
They were being hunted through the thick clouds by a Shotai of Zeros, but evaded them in the grey mist. Clouds suddenly parted for one of the three groups of B-17s from the 63rd BS, revealing the ships with no Zeros in sight and the AAA crews on the Destroyers seemingly asleep at the wheel. The B-17s quickly descended from 5,000 to 1,000 ft and made their run. With minimal AA and no fighters to dissuade them, they scored hits on the Teiyo Maru and the Kyokusei Maru, and a near miss on the Kenbu Maru. Kyokusei Maru was hit with two 1,000 lbs and was on fire and lagging behind the convoy, though the other two ships were able to keep up. This must have been so satisfying for the B-17 crews.
Their joy was short lived though as the Shotai of Zeros from 253 Ku suddenly arrived and pounced on the B-17s. B-17s Lulu Belle and Old Baldy were both seriously damaged with wounded crew right away, but all the heavy bombers made it back to base (one of the pilots mentioned his uneasy view of 20' brown sharks in the seas below them as they fled in their badly damaged aircraft). The other two B-17 groups from the 64th and 65th BS then saw the Convoy through another gap in the clouds, but were attacked by the Zeros, while the AAA finally came to life and the ships began steaming in circles to avoid bombs. The escort of 16 Lightnings arrived by this time and engaged the Zeros briefly, though due to being short on fuel they had to RTB shortly after arriving, while the bombers dropped their bombs from 4,000-7,000 ft, damaging Tiyo Maru and Nojima with near misses, causing a few dozen casualties.
At the same time, 2 x B-24s which were doing an armed reconnaissance spotted the Convoy and dropped 12 x 1,000 lb bombs before being briefly attacked by a single "Zeke" and driven off. One of three G4M Betty bombers which was flying reconnaissance and ASW over the Convoy got into a brief exchange of gunfire with a B-17.
From the fighting so far, three more B-17s were significantly damaged, for a total of five, one A6M was missing, another was damaged and tried to make it back to Gasmata but ditched just offshore. This CAP patrol of 12 Zeros then landed at Gasmata, and reported expending 1,080 rounds of 20mm and 10,800 rounds of 7.7mm during the fighting.
Kyosei Maru was still burning and suffering from multiple explosions resulting from the first B-17 strike and now began to sink, going down at 1125 with 485 IJA infantry and sailors going with the ship, 831 being rescued by the destroyers. A new group of 15 x A6Ms patrolled over the Convoy for the next few hours before returning to Rabaul at 1500. The next patrol was of Oscars from 1st Hiko Sentai. A new group of 9 x B-17s from the 43rd BG arrived at 1815 carrying 1,000 lb bombs. They were intercepted by 13 x Ki-43-I. One B-17 was badly damaged but all managed to get back to base.
Allied losses: None (six B-17s damaged)
Japanese losses: 2 x A6M
3 March, Battle of the Bismarck Sea, day 2
The Convoy was attacked by 2 x RAAF PBYs Catalinas which scored some near misses. The Convoy was being slowed down by a disastrous current, dropping down to 4-5 knots, just as the sky began to clear and they were coming into the strike range of the light and medium bombers from Port Moresby.
A pre-dawn strike of 8 x RAAF Beauforts from 110 Sqn carrying torpedoes flew through a heavy storm completely blind on instruments, and became increasingly disoriented. Two Beauforts finally emerged into a clear space just in time to see the Convoy, one launching a torpedo at a 'cruiser' (one of the IJN Destroyers) but missing, while the other tried to launch at a ship which seemed to be standing still (due to the current) but the torpedo wouldn't release (yet another example of faulty ordinance release mechanisms!)
A second pre-dawn strike was launched by 5 x RAAF Boston IIIs from 22 Sqn against Lae, but two had to turn back due to mechanical problems, only three bombed and strafed the airfield.
A much larger strike was coming together around Port Moresby's six airfields. IJN Zeros were flying CAP over the Convoy as a massive strike group consisting of 28 x P-38s from 9th and 39th FS, 17 x B-17s, 33 x B-25s from four squadrons, 12 x RAAF Beaufighters from 30 Sqn, and 12 x A-20As from 89th BS. Some of the B-25s and all of the A-20s had modified gun-noses for strafing. 21 of the B-25s were configured for level bombing, 12 were modified for strafing and skip or mast-head bombing together with the Beaufighters and A-20s. This massive formation of 100 aircraft formed up at 0930 at Cape Ward Hunt and then proceeded toward the target. The level bombers were at 9,000 ft while the strafers / skip bombers were at 5,000 ft, and the P-38s were at 15,000 ft.
The strike arrived at roughly 1000 hours, and began attacking for the next 25 minutes. The Beaufighters - whose squadron radio chatter was being broadcast around the RAAF base for everyone to listen to by a speaker, came in guns blazing to suppress the AAA. The low level strafers consisting of 12 x A-20As from 89th BS and 12 B-25C-1 from 90th BS came in next, guns also blazing and carrying 500 lb bombs. Releasing their bombs from barely above sea level, they recorded scoring twenty hits from 24 bombs released at six targets. One A-20 dented a wing on the mast as it flew over a vessel. The strafers later were recorded to have expended 17,000 0.5" rounds during this attack.
The small Kenbu Maru was hit and immediately exploded with it's load of aviation fuel creating a massive fireball. Several other transports were clearly also hit. All of the B-17s then swept over the convoy dropping 64 x 1,000 lb bombs from 6,000-7,000 ft, claiming four hits. This was followed by more B-25s dropping bombs from about 5,000 ft. A lone B-24 on armed reconnaissance also dropped four 500 lbs from higher altitude but missed.
CAP assigned to protect the convoy consisted of 41 x A6M Zeros ( 15 x A6M2 from the Zuiho, 14 x A6M3 from 253 Ku, and 12 x A6M3 from 204 Ku). All three squadrons had launched and were approaching the Convoy from different directions just as the Allied strike attacked it. They were faced with 28 x P-38s, though one, the commander of the 9th FS force, had to return to Port Moresby when one of his external tanks would not release, leaving 27 flying at between 14,000- 16,000 ft. The P-38s and Zeros got into a large dogfight. 3 x P-38Fs from 39th FS being shot down within the first half hour of fighting. 3 x A6M were also shot down, one from the Zuiho and two from 204 Ku.
After tangling with the P-38 escort several of the Zeros broke through to attack the Allied bombers, with Zeros from the Zuiho and 204 Ku going after the level bombers and 253 Ku going after the strafer / skip bombers. In the resulting combat, one A6M apparently collided with a B-17 called Double Trouble aka Ka Puhio Wela. Both the A6M and the B-17 went down, most of it's crew bailed out but were strafed by Zeros (both sides did this kind of thing in this Theater). Other Zeros claimed three A-20s but none were actually lost. One Beaufighter was shot up badly by a Zero but managed to crash land near Dobodura and the crew survived. A B-25 was shot up but also made it back to base, however it crash landed killing one crew.
Allied Losses: 3 x P-38F, 1 x B-17, 1 x B-25, 1 x Beaufighter. Plus 8 transport ships.
Japanaese Losses: 3 x A6M
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- Thread starter
- #146
Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
- 1,069
- Sep 29, 2025
But wait, there's more!
Pic from the book of a moderately damaged A-20A from the first morning attack
3 March, 1943, later morning and afternoon
After the early morning strikes which devastated the Lae Convoy, fighting continued through the day.
Later in the morning, a total of 27 P-40s from 49th FG were launched on a strike toward Lae (19 x P-40E and K - 15 from 7th FS and 4 from 8th FS - carrying 300 lb bombs - which Claringbould notes are pairs of these bombs on each plane, were escorted by ten more P-40s from 8th FS with no bombs). The plan was to bomb the Convoy when it arrived at Lae, and failing that to hit the field. In theory these were supposed to be escorted by 9 x P-38s from 9th FS, but the latter missed the rendezvous and ended up briefly skirmishing with some Oscars over the Huon Gulf on their own. The P-40s arrived over Lae harbour at 1230, finding no Convoy there they bombed the airfield and barges and small boats spotted on the Markham river. The P-40s were attacked by 9 x Ki-43s from 11th Hiko Sentai, with the USAAF pilots claiming multiple victories and the JAAF pilots claiming one, but in fact no planes were lost by either side.
The remnant of the Convoy which now consisted of 8 destroyers (which also had troops and supplies on board) was roughly 30 minutes flight away to the north of Lae. Three of these destroyers were badly damaged in the early morning strike. The Shirayuki, the flagship of Rear Admiral Kimura Masatomi, was badly damaged and near crippled, the admiral himself was wounded and was transferred with his staff to the Shikinami. The Arashio was also badly damaged and had lost rudder control, and the Tokitsukaze, hit by at least two bombs, was dead in the water.
News of the strafing of the bailing out crews of the B-17 in the first morning attack were circulating around the bases in Port Moresby and crews were eager for revenge. Another huge strike was organized, this time consisting of 90 aircraft, including 18 x P-38s from 9th and 39th FS, 16 x B-17s, 29 x B-25s, 10 x RAAF Beaufighters, 12 x A-20As, and 5 x RAAF Boston IIIs. However this big strike force hit stormy weather over the Owen Stanley's and about a third of the force turned back. Those that made it to the vicinity of the Convoy arrived amidst storms and heavy clouds in small groups of 3-5 planes at a time.
12 x Ki-43 from 11th Hiko Sentai arrived to protect the Convoy, and beheld the disastrous scene of burning, crippled ships, oil slicks, life boats, and men struggling in the water. As word of the disaster spread 9 x Zeros from 252 Ku were dispatched from Lakunai. These were patrolling over the devastated convoy at 1450 when the first Allied bombers appeared. The first to attack were RAAF Bostons which claimed hits on a destroyer with 250 lb bombs at 1503. B-25 strafer / skip bombers came in blasting with their .50 caliber heavy machine guns and then dropping five bombs each, claiming 22 hits on three destroyers and one hit on an already burning cargo ship. Then three formations of B-17s arrived and dropped 1,000 lb bombs, claiming hits on two destroyers and two cargo ships. 7 x P-38 escorts reported combat with 27 Zekes and Oscars, claiming four Zekes, but there were no fighter losses on either side.
The hitherto undamaged Arashio was hit between four and six times and was dead in the water sinking by 1530. At least one other destroyer was also hit. Four IJN Destroyers remained.
Oscars attacked the B-17s with one B-17E Naughty But Nice badly damaged in a frontal attack, with several wounded and the pilot mortally wounded. But the aircraft managed a forced landing at Dobodura. Allied bombers then (now somewhat infamously) strafed the floating Japanese sailors and soldiers in the water. Due to storm clouds over the Owen Stanelys "dozens" of the Allied bombers then landed at the much easier destination of Dobodura. Unfortunately Dobodura did not have enough fuel and repair facilities to launch them all right away so many were stuck there for a time.
Finally three Oscars were written off after wrecking at Lae due to hitting bomb craters on the runway from the morning P-40 attack.
Allied losses: None (one B-17E heavily damaged with injured crew)
Japanese losses: Three Oscars wrecked by bomb craters.
4 Mar
With many bombers temporarily stuck at Dobodura, Allied air strikes were somewhat diminished. Bizarrely, both US and Japanese aircraft tried to bomb the crippled and now abandoned IJN destroyer Tokitsukaze, which for a while stubbornly refused to sink. Lae was hit by B-24s with fragmentation bomblets and then a larger raid of 11 x Beaufighters and 12 x A-20As escorted by 8 x P-40s and 20 x P-38s. As the Beaufighters and A-20s strafed Lae airfield and some other nearby fields, the escorts got into a running fight with about 40 Oscars from 1 and 11 Hiko Sentai, with two Oscars being shot down (it's not clear by whom).
Later in the afternoon, Tokitsukaze was finally being finished off by B-25s from the 90th BS, escorted by P-40s from 7th FS.
Ultimately, two destroyers reached Lae and dropped off 831 troops which had been rescued from the transport Kyokusei Maru. Another 2,000 rescued troops and sailors were returned to Rabaul, and roughly 3,000 IJA troops and sailors were killed in the Convoy attacks, with a dozen vitally needed ships sunk.
Also on 4 March, a new IJA bomber unit consisting of Ki-21 light bombers arrived at Rapopo on New Britain.
Allied Losses: None
Japanese Losses: 2 x Ki-43s
5 -8 Mar
The Japanese decided to regroup in the aftermath of the disastrous Convoy debacle, and it was decided to move all of the remaining Oscars out of Lae. Just as they were starting to fly out early on the morning of 5 Mar they were attacked by RAAF Boston IIIs of 22 Sqn, who claimed one Oscar destroyed on the ground. Many others were spotted. A second early morning strike consisted of 5 x RAAF Beaufighters and 6 x A-20A escorted by 16 x P-40s from 7th FS and 16 x P38s from 9th and 39th FS flying high cover. These aircraft arrived at 0845, when the Beaufighter pilots spotted Oscars having just taken off. These were immediately attacked by 7th FS P-40s which claimed three Oscars. The actual loss was the 1st Hiko Sentai Commander, Major Sawada Mitusgu. He had been commander for five days following the combat death of his predecessor.
The 9th FS P-38s also reported combat with Oscars and made a claim, but in the process one P-38G was damaged. It flew home on one engine and crash landed at Wau, the pilot being badly injured. One of the A-20s also ditched near Port Moresby after taking damage, pilot safe. Beaufighters reported strafing several Japanese boats along the coastline.
The Allies had decided to build a base n Goodenough Island near Milne and on 6 March landed some Australian infantry there. This was noticed by a pair of G4M Betty bombers on recon patrol and it descended to investigate, in turn noticed by a pair of RAAF Kityhawks of 75 Sqn which were also flying a recon patrol, and one of these shot down one of the two G4Ms.
On 7 March the Japanese launched a raid against Allied shipping in Oro bay which was supporting the buildup of the air base at Dobodura. The riad consisting of 17 G4M Bettys escorted by 27 A6M Zeros attacked on 1300, hitting the Dutch passenger steamship 'S Jacob with three direct hits, quickly sinking it. At Dobodura, P-38 Lightnings of the 9th FS were notified of the attack by radio and quickly scrambled to intercept, which they did about 15 minutes later, attacking the Bettys before getting into combat with the Zeros. No aircraft were lost although one P-38 was seriously damaged, and one G4M had a wounded crewman.
Allied losses: 1 x P-38 destroyed in crash landing after combat with Oscars, 1 x A-20
Japanese Losses: 1 x Ki-43, 1 x G4M
Pic from the book of a moderately damaged A-20A from the first morning attack
3 March, 1943, later morning and afternoon
After the early morning strikes which devastated the Lae Convoy, fighting continued through the day.
Later in the morning, a total of 27 P-40s from 49th FG were launched on a strike toward Lae (19 x P-40E and K - 15 from 7th FS and 4 from 8th FS - carrying 300 lb bombs - which Claringbould notes are pairs of these bombs on each plane, were escorted by ten more P-40s from 8th FS with no bombs). The plan was to bomb the Convoy when it arrived at Lae, and failing that to hit the field. In theory these were supposed to be escorted by 9 x P-38s from 9th FS, but the latter missed the rendezvous and ended up briefly skirmishing with some Oscars over the Huon Gulf on their own. The P-40s arrived over Lae harbour at 1230, finding no Convoy there they bombed the airfield and barges and small boats spotted on the Markham river. The P-40s were attacked by 9 x Ki-43s from 11th Hiko Sentai, with the USAAF pilots claiming multiple victories and the JAAF pilots claiming one, but in fact no planes were lost by either side.
The remnant of the Convoy which now consisted of 8 destroyers (which also had troops and supplies on board) was roughly 30 minutes flight away to the north of Lae. Three of these destroyers were badly damaged in the early morning strike. The Shirayuki, the flagship of Rear Admiral Kimura Masatomi, was badly damaged and near crippled, the admiral himself was wounded and was transferred with his staff to the Shikinami. The Arashio was also badly damaged and had lost rudder control, and the Tokitsukaze, hit by at least two bombs, was dead in the water.
News of the strafing of the bailing out crews of the B-17 in the first morning attack were circulating around the bases in Port Moresby and crews were eager for revenge. Another huge strike was organized, this time consisting of 90 aircraft, including 18 x P-38s from 9th and 39th FS, 16 x B-17s, 29 x B-25s, 10 x RAAF Beaufighters, 12 x A-20As, and 5 x RAAF Boston IIIs. However this big strike force hit stormy weather over the Owen Stanley's and about a third of the force turned back. Those that made it to the vicinity of the Convoy arrived amidst storms and heavy clouds in small groups of 3-5 planes at a time.
12 x Ki-43 from 11th Hiko Sentai arrived to protect the Convoy, and beheld the disastrous scene of burning, crippled ships, oil slicks, life boats, and men struggling in the water. As word of the disaster spread 9 x Zeros from 252 Ku were dispatched from Lakunai. These were patrolling over the devastated convoy at 1450 when the first Allied bombers appeared. The first to attack were RAAF Bostons which claimed hits on a destroyer with 250 lb bombs at 1503. B-25 strafer / skip bombers came in blasting with their .50 caliber heavy machine guns and then dropping five bombs each, claiming 22 hits on three destroyers and one hit on an already burning cargo ship. Then three formations of B-17s arrived and dropped 1,000 lb bombs, claiming hits on two destroyers and two cargo ships. 7 x P-38 escorts reported combat with 27 Zekes and Oscars, claiming four Zekes, but there were no fighter losses on either side.
The hitherto undamaged Arashio was hit between four and six times and was dead in the water sinking by 1530. At least one other destroyer was also hit. Four IJN Destroyers remained.
Oscars attacked the B-17s with one B-17E Naughty But Nice badly damaged in a frontal attack, with several wounded and the pilot mortally wounded. But the aircraft managed a forced landing at Dobodura. Allied bombers then (now somewhat infamously) strafed the floating Japanese sailors and soldiers in the water. Due to storm clouds over the Owen Stanelys "dozens" of the Allied bombers then landed at the much easier destination of Dobodura. Unfortunately Dobodura did not have enough fuel and repair facilities to launch them all right away so many were stuck there for a time.
Finally three Oscars were written off after wrecking at Lae due to hitting bomb craters on the runway from the morning P-40 attack.
Allied losses: None (one B-17E heavily damaged with injured crew)
Japanese losses: Three Oscars wrecked by bomb craters.
4 Mar
With many bombers temporarily stuck at Dobodura, Allied air strikes were somewhat diminished. Bizarrely, both US and Japanese aircraft tried to bomb the crippled and now abandoned IJN destroyer Tokitsukaze, which for a while stubbornly refused to sink. Lae was hit by B-24s with fragmentation bomblets and then a larger raid of 11 x Beaufighters and 12 x A-20As escorted by 8 x P-40s and 20 x P-38s. As the Beaufighters and A-20s strafed Lae airfield and some other nearby fields, the escorts got into a running fight with about 40 Oscars from 1 and 11 Hiko Sentai, with two Oscars being shot down (it's not clear by whom).
Later in the afternoon, Tokitsukaze was finally being finished off by B-25s from the 90th BS, escorted by P-40s from 7th FS.
Ultimately, two destroyers reached Lae and dropped off 831 troops which had been rescued from the transport Kyokusei Maru. Another 2,000 rescued troops and sailors were returned to Rabaul, and roughly 3,000 IJA troops and sailors were killed in the Convoy attacks, with a dozen vitally needed ships sunk.
Also on 4 March, a new IJA bomber unit consisting of Ki-21 light bombers arrived at Rapopo on New Britain.
Allied Losses: None
Japanese Losses: 2 x Ki-43s
5 -8 Mar
The Japanese decided to regroup in the aftermath of the disastrous Convoy debacle, and it was decided to move all of the remaining Oscars out of Lae. Just as they were starting to fly out early on the morning of 5 Mar they were attacked by RAAF Boston IIIs of 22 Sqn, who claimed one Oscar destroyed on the ground. Many others were spotted. A second early morning strike consisted of 5 x RAAF Beaufighters and 6 x A-20A escorted by 16 x P-40s from 7th FS and 16 x P38s from 9th and 39th FS flying high cover. These aircraft arrived at 0845, when the Beaufighter pilots spotted Oscars having just taken off. These were immediately attacked by 7th FS P-40s which claimed three Oscars. The actual loss was the 1st Hiko Sentai Commander, Major Sawada Mitusgu. He had been commander for five days following the combat death of his predecessor.
The 9th FS P-38s also reported combat with Oscars and made a claim, but in the process one P-38G was damaged. It flew home on one engine and crash landed at Wau, the pilot being badly injured. One of the A-20s also ditched near Port Moresby after taking damage, pilot safe. Beaufighters reported strafing several Japanese boats along the coastline.
The Allies had decided to build a base n Goodenough Island near Milne and on 6 March landed some Australian infantry there. This was noticed by a pair of G4M Betty bombers on recon patrol and it descended to investigate, in turn noticed by a pair of RAAF Kityhawks of 75 Sqn which were also flying a recon patrol, and one of these shot down one of the two G4Ms.
On 7 March the Japanese launched a raid against Allied shipping in Oro bay which was supporting the buildup of the air base at Dobodura. The riad consisting of 17 G4M Bettys escorted by 27 A6M Zeros attacked on 1300, hitting the Dutch passenger steamship 'S Jacob with three direct hits, quickly sinking it. At Dobodura, P-38 Lightnings of the 9th FS were notified of the attack by radio and quickly scrambled to intercept, which they did about 15 minutes later, attacking the Bettys before getting into combat with the Zeros. No aircraft were lost although one P-38 was seriously damaged, and one G4M had a wounded crewman.
Allied losses: 1 x P-38 destroyed in crash landing after combat with Oscars, 1 x A-20
Japanese Losses: 1 x Ki-43, 1 x G4M
Last edited:
Wildcat
Major
Australian propaganda piece of the battle filmed from behind a Beaufighter pilot. Contains some great shots of RAAF aircraft involved.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBpmflvJkfk
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBpmflvJkfk
- Thread starter
- #148
Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
- 1,069
- Sep 29, 2025
that was fun to watch, as corny as some parts were. I hadn't seen the footage in a while and it was very interesting to watch it in light of reading all about the battle so recently.
varsity07840
Airman 1st Class
- 182
- Jun 25, 2013
Gunn did not modify B-26s into strafers.
Greg Boeser
1st Lieutenant
True. Only one 22nd BG B-26 was modified with a single fixed .50 in the nose. That was a crew modification.
It would be adopted by the 69th Bomb Squadron operating from New Caledonia, and became standard on later B-26s. The 70th Bomb Squadron, operating out of Fiji, received package guns in November 1942.
In Alaska, several B-26s were modified into strafers in the second half of 1942.
This modification consisted of a pair of 20mm cannon and a pair of .50s mounted in the nose.
- Thread starter
- #151
Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
- 1,069
- Sep 29, 2025
I thought they added a few gun pods? Maybe I misread that.
- Thread starter
- #152
Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
- 1,069
- Sep 29, 2025
Thanks I missed this when I wrote my reply, that explains what I've seen.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Slight threadjacking here. Was over claiming during the Great War as common as it was in WW II? I imagine no.
- Thread starter
- #154
Steamed_Banana
Staff Sergeant
- 1,069
- Sep 29, 2025
It would be interesting to look at WW1, but I think overclaiming was a constant, as it's just a subset of the Fog of War which is much more of a factor than we tend to assume or acknowledge.
I am going to get into the issue of overclaiming a bit at the end when I finish posting the operational history in this last book.
But the short version of my take is that the rates vary on the following five things:
1 - Nature of terrain - In places like desert or steppe where wrecked aircraft can be discovered and identified, overclaiming is at least potentially lower than in places with sea and thick jungle. In New Guinea, the wrecks of even the aircraft which crashed within a mile of airbases or strongholds were often not found until the 1970s-1990s or later. Obviously aircraft that fall into the sea are rarely ever found. I believe there is also some difference to do with the altitude - at lower altitude you can see an enemy aircraft hit the ground (or the sea) whereas at higher altitude you may see it spiraling downward smoking and think it's done for, but it's pilot is able to recover the aircraft and keep flying. In the South Pacific, the ominpresent dark opaque clouds, heavy fog and wild thunderstorms made verification of victories extra difficult. Combat aircraft were going into and out of clouds during fights and immediately afterward, or spiraling down into clouds seemingly doomed, making verification of a claim (or understanding what was going on in general) almost impossible.
2- Size of the battle - in a fight between just one on one or a handful of two or three aircraft on each side, overclaiming tends to be much less than in very large swirling dogfights with 20+ aircraft fighting. I think this is because whenever one aircraft is hit or destroyed, many people see the explosion, the plume of black smoke, the aircraft flipping out of control with one wing, the pilot bailing out. And if you shot at an aircraft, it may seem likely that this is the one you got. Keep in mind what people usually see is little more than dots zipping around, they only see a full sized image of an enemy plane for a few seconds at most in most cases. In the operational history, overclaiming really seems to go up with very large and very long battles, and is far less severe when the battles were small. A lot of the kills took place either in the early stages of the 'bounce' or in cases where the more maneuverable fighter gradually got the upper hand in a descending fight - which is how the P-38s usually got shot down in the Pacific, which is in turn why they learned to disengage when fights lasted too long or descended too low. By this point in 1943, all experienced pilots on both sides had clearly learned to use reliable escape maneuvers to avoid getting killed, and large, long dogfights often had surprisingly few losses on either side. Or sometimes none at all.
3 - Verification procedures - Some units were very strict about confirming victories, others were not. This is true even with two units operating in the same area. Christopher Shores dug into this somewhat showing major differences between JAAF air units in Burma. The same was apparent with both Allied and Axis units in the Middle East. Gun cameras helped with this somewhat but were not a panacea. The difference between strict and 'good' verification vs lax might be 3-1 overclaiming vs 8-1. But there is still a lot of overclaiming regardless.
4- Morale - Units which were suffering poor morale and high losses were prone to more overclaiming, and were less disciplined for doing so. In some cases their commanding officers were dead after being KiA or MiA in combat- this was a particularly consistent issue for the Japanese Army Air force who seemed to lose high ranking officers and commanders on a very routine basis. It was also true for a lot of the bomber gunners on the American heavy and medium bombers.
5- Damage vs destruction - I think this is a big one. One thing that is increasingly clear to me is that many aircraft which seem to be destroyed - that go spinning downward out of control, big holes in the wings or fuselage, large pieces that came off, canopies shattered, black smoke emerging, and even big fires burning, that looked like they are definitely doomed to all witnesses, were often in fact not doomed and managed to limp back to a friendly base or at least crash-land somewhere within or near friendly lines. This was almost as true for the Japanese fighters as for the American and British etc. And it's a lot different than what we were taught (and what they were told during the war), i.e. that the Japanese planes were made of tinfoil and confetti and flew apart like a pinata as soon as they were hit with one round of .50 cal. Many Japanese fighter pilots around New Guinea saw B-17s shot up, with one or two engines out, shattered cockpit with blood visible, streaming smoke and fluids, descending and seemingly out of control, and were sure they got them. But more often than not, the B-17s made it back to base, maybe with 2 engines out and 3-4 casualties aboard. Sometimes this was also the case with Allied twin-engined bombers and fighters too that were shot up and seemed to be doomed but actually weren't. Allied pilots and gunners also saw Japanese fighters going downward seemingly out of control, with wounded pilots, shattered windscreens, trailing smoke and even catching on fire and were sure they were doomed, but they often recovered (even fires sometimes went out). In these cases, the pilot or gunner was warranted in thinking that they got the kill, but the enemy aircraft shook off the carnage and made it back to base.
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Steamed_Banana
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- Sep 29, 2025
Ok so moving on with the operational history.
11 March 1943
On the morning of 11 Mar a joint IJN / IJA airstrike approached the increasingly busy and crowded Allied airfield complex at Dobodura on the north-eastern side of New Guinea, just inland from Buna. 26 x JAAF Ki-21 "Sally" light bombers carrying 134 x 50 kg bombs were escorted by 40 x A6M Zero fighters from 252 Ku, 253 Ku, and the Zuiho aircraft carrier. The raid was detected by a ship but due to problems with the telephone system at the base the warning was not disseminated. 4 x P-40s from 8th FS were flying CAP over shipping unloading in nearby Oro Bay. They were vectored to climb toward the approaching formation. Another 8 x P-40 from the same unit were scrambled, along with 8 X P-38s from 9th FS.
The Allied fighters did not get to the JAAF bombers before they released their bombs which destroyed 2 x P-38s on the ground and damaged a P-400 Airacobra and a B-25. There were also 16 casualties on the ground including 5 Allied personnel KiA.
The P-38s were the first to reach the Japanese bombers, intercepting at 24-26,000 ft, but they were driven away by the escorting Zeros. During a head-on pass, a Zero collided with a P-38 flown by 1st Lt William Hanning, resulting in both aircraft being destroyed (Hanning bailed out and was rescued). The P-40s then engaged, one of which was hit by a 20mm shell wounding Lt Leo Mayo in his arm. During the subsequent fighting, Richard Bong got into another incident famous incident (for those familiar with his biography) when he fled in a high shallow speed dive from several Zeros, with a damaged engine leaking glycol, finally outrunning them down at sea level in his damaged fighter. Bong had been written off as lost when he arrived late back at base. Details of his escape became an SOP document for the USAAF for how to disengage from Zeros in a P-38.
US pilots claimed nine "Zekes" and two "Bettys", two Zekes credited to Bong and two to Hanning, five to P-40 pilots. The IJN claimed 18 US fighters shot down. Actual losses were 1 x P-38 that was in the collision (plus one P-40 and 2 x P-38s damaged) plus two Ki-21s crash landed on return to base, and two A6M were damaged. Once again it's impossible to say which units (or which aircraft types) were responsible for the lost Japanese planes.
Allied Losses: 1 x P-38 shot down (1 x P-38 damaged, 1 x P-40 damaged with pilot WiA), 2 x P-38s destroyed by bombs on the ground.
Japanese Losses: 2 x K-21 crash landed (2 x A6M damaged)
Raids against bases on both sides of the Solomon Sea continued through March, while late in the month there were some signs of a new attempt to resupply the Japnaese base at Salamaua (just south of Lae). On Mar 21 around noon a B-24 detected, attacked, and sunk a small 37 ton picket boat Kimi Maru #11 in Cape Gloucester off the western coast of New Britain. Over the next few days, US heavy bombers made night raids on Rabaul, light bombers and strafers attacked Salamua and Lae, and the Japanese made night raids on Port Morseby, Milne Bay, and Dobodura.
28 March 1943
On the morning of 28 Mar a large Japanese raid approached Allied shipping in Oro bay near Dobodura. This consisted of 18 x D3A "Val" dive bombers from 582 Ku, each armed with a 250 kg bomb, escorted by 39 x A6M3 Zeros from 253 and 204 Ku. The Allied got 15 minutes warning and scrambled 5 x P-38s from 9th FS and 8 x P-40s from 8th FS, followed by another 8 x P-38s and 4 x P-40s. The Allied fighters did not arrive in time to prevent the dive bomber attacks and the 3,322 ton Dutch cargo ship Bantam was hit by two bombs and sunk at the warf, as was the 1,172 ton Masaya (a US WWI era destroyer converted into a a banana carrier) which also sunk.
The P-40s from the first 8th FS group spotted the Vals and attacked, but failed to notice the Zeros and were bounced from above, 1 x P-40 piloted by Lt Cecil Dewees shot down and the pilot killed. In the ensuing dogfight Allied pilots claimed 6 fighters and 2 dive bombers. Actual losses were 4 x D3A Vals and no IJN fighters. It looks like the Vals were shot down by the P-40s but it's not certain.
Allied Losses: 1 x P-40 shot down
Japanese Losses: 4 x D3A Val shot down
On the night of 29 March two B-17s made low-level skip bombing attacks 4 IJN Destroyers which were about to unload cargo and 500 troops at Finschhafen. The B-17 reported a hit, which was actually a near miss, but it was close enough to scare the IJN ships into aborting their mission and departing northward. On 30 March the same four destroyers were spotted by a Liberator at 0720. The Liberator then dueled with Ki-43s from the new Japanese base at Capt Gloucester (probably from 11 Hiko Sentai) claiming 3 destroyed but none were shot down. Later that day Finschhafen and Gasmata airfield were struck by Allied light and medium bombers.
That destroyer run was the last attempt by the Japanese to resupply the Lae Finschhafen area. From that point onward Lae was supplied by barges and small boats moving mainly at night along the coast of New Guinea from Japanese bases further north.
11 March 1943
On the morning of 11 Mar a joint IJN / IJA airstrike approached the increasingly busy and crowded Allied airfield complex at Dobodura on the north-eastern side of New Guinea, just inland from Buna. 26 x JAAF Ki-21 "Sally" light bombers carrying 134 x 50 kg bombs were escorted by 40 x A6M Zero fighters from 252 Ku, 253 Ku, and the Zuiho aircraft carrier. The raid was detected by a ship but due to problems with the telephone system at the base the warning was not disseminated. 4 x P-40s from 8th FS were flying CAP over shipping unloading in nearby Oro Bay. They were vectored to climb toward the approaching formation. Another 8 x P-40 from the same unit were scrambled, along with 8 X P-38s from 9th FS.
The Allied fighters did not get to the JAAF bombers before they released their bombs which destroyed 2 x P-38s on the ground and damaged a P-400 Airacobra and a B-25. There were also 16 casualties on the ground including 5 Allied personnel KiA.
The P-38s were the first to reach the Japanese bombers, intercepting at 24-26,000 ft, but they were driven away by the escorting Zeros. During a head-on pass, a Zero collided with a P-38 flown by 1st Lt William Hanning, resulting in both aircraft being destroyed (Hanning bailed out and was rescued). The P-40s then engaged, one of which was hit by a 20mm shell wounding Lt Leo Mayo in his arm. During the subsequent fighting, Richard Bong got into another incident famous incident (for those familiar with his biography) when he fled in a high shallow speed dive from several Zeros, with a damaged engine leaking glycol, finally outrunning them down at sea level in his damaged fighter. Bong had been written off as lost when he arrived late back at base. Details of his escape became an SOP document for the USAAF for how to disengage from Zeros in a P-38.
US pilots claimed nine "Zekes" and two "Bettys", two Zekes credited to Bong and two to Hanning, five to P-40 pilots. The IJN claimed 18 US fighters shot down. Actual losses were 1 x P-38 that was in the collision (plus one P-40 and 2 x P-38s damaged) plus two Ki-21s crash landed on return to base, and two A6M were damaged. Once again it's impossible to say which units (or which aircraft types) were responsible for the lost Japanese planes.
Allied Losses: 1 x P-38 shot down (1 x P-38 damaged, 1 x P-40 damaged with pilot WiA), 2 x P-38s destroyed by bombs on the ground.
Japanese Losses: 2 x K-21 crash landed (2 x A6M damaged)
Raids against bases on both sides of the Solomon Sea continued through March, while late in the month there were some signs of a new attempt to resupply the Japnaese base at Salamaua (just south of Lae). On Mar 21 around noon a B-24 detected, attacked, and sunk a small 37 ton picket boat Kimi Maru #11 in Cape Gloucester off the western coast of New Britain. Over the next few days, US heavy bombers made night raids on Rabaul, light bombers and strafers attacked Salamua and Lae, and the Japanese made night raids on Port Morseby, Milne Bay, and Dobodura.
28 March 1943
On the morning of 28 Mar a large Japanese raid approached Allied shipping in Oro bay near Dobodura. This consisted of 18 x D3A "Val" dive bombers from 582 Ku, each armed with a 250 kg bomb, escorted by 39 x A6M3 Zeros from 253 and 204 Ku. The Allied got 15 minutes warning and scrambled 5 x P-38s from 9th FS and 8 x P-40s from 8th FS, followed by another 8 x P-38s and 4 x P-40s. The Allied fighters did not arrive in time to prevent the dive bomber attacks and the 3,322 ton Dutch cargo ship Bantam was hit by two bombs and sunk at the warf, as was the 1,172 ton Masaya (a US WWI era destroyer converted into a a banana carrier) which also sunk.
The P-40s from the first 8th FS group spotted the Vals and attacked, but failed to notice the Zeros and were bounced from above, 1 x P-40 piloted by Lt Cecil Dewees shot down and the pilot killed. In the ensuing dogfight Allied pilots claimed 6 fighters and 2 dive bombers. Actual losses were 4 x D3A Vals and no IJN fighters. It looks like the Vals were shot down by the P-40s but it's not certain.
Allied Losses: 1 x P-40 shot down
Japanese Losses: 4 x D3A Val shot down
On the night of 29 March two B-17s made low-level skip bombing attacks 4 IJN Destroyers which were about to unload cargo and 500 troops at Finschhafen. The B-17 reported a hit, which was actually a near miss, but it was close enough to scare the IJN ships into aborting their mission and departing northward. On 30 March the same four destroyers were spotted by a Liberator at 0720. The Liberator then dueled with Ki-43s from the new Japanese base at Capt Gloucester (probably from 11 Hiko Sentai) claiming 3 destroyed but none were shot down. Later that day Finschhafen and Gasmata airfield were struck by Allied light and medium bombers.
That destroyer run was the last attempt by the Japanese to resupply the Lae Finschhafen area. From that point onward Lae was supplied by barges and small boats moving mainly at night along the coast of New Guinea from Japanese bases further north.
