Target: Rabaul: The Allied Siege of Japan's Most Infamous Stronghold, March 1943 - August 1945

by Bruce Gamble

  Chapter 20: Feeding Frenzy

  “lots of Zekes”: VMF-215 aircraft action report, January 14, 1944; “The Zeke went down”: VMF-321 war diary, January 9, 1944; “The process was wide open”: Tillman, correspondence with author, May 30, 2013; “Hanson would land”: George Brewer, Hanson’s Last Flight, unpublished narrative, 1994, pp. 6–7; “He ordered me to stick with Hanson”: ibid.; “Just do what you always do”: Hanson, quoted by Weber, p. 9; “Marines just do not go off”: ibid., p. 13; “an abiding hatred”: ibid., pp. 241–242; comments by Warrant Officer Komachi: quoted by Henry Sakaida in “Rising Sun’s Fighter Foes,” Flight Journal, Winter 2003, p. 57; “I rushed out of the car”: Masatake Okumiya, Rabaul Naval Air Group, Asahi Sonorama, 1976, p. 5; “I looked up”: ibid.; “commit an honorable suicide” and “The laws of the battlefield”: Matsuda manuscript; “We repeated ambush after ambush”: Okumiya, pp. 136–137; ineffectiveness of mining: postwar interrogation of IJN Cmdr. Yasumi Doi, USSBS; “all attack, land-based attack”: Monograph 142, p. 511; departure of Boyington and other prisoners from Rabaul: author, Black Sheep One, p. 403.

  Chapter 21: Fortress Rubble

  Evidence of reduction in shipping at Rabaul: XIII Strike Command war diary, February 27, 1944; “Mental attitude”: McMurria, Trial and Triumph, p. 32; “All the troops”: Imamura, postwar interrogation, quoted in USSBS, pp. 3–4, AFHRA; “This time it was the real thing”: Holguin manuscript, p. 42; Fitzgerald’s joke: quoted by Joe Nason, Nason, You Next Die, draft manuscript, undated, p. 43; Nason’s handcuff dilemma, and “Joe’s explanation”: McMurria, p. 97; polygraph of Shinichi Kawamoto: Criminal Investigation Lab, Far East Command, “Report of Polygraph Examination Given to Suspect in Possible War Crimes and Atrocity at Rabaul,” December 6, 1945, AWM; “cleaning out the fringes”: SOPAC Force summary, p. 140; “after a few days”: ibid., pp. 138–142.

  Chapter 22: Island of Despair

  “bomb the airfields”: policy quoted in SOPAC Force summary, p. 4; Ordnance experimentation on Vunapope: ibid.; “the most significant innovation”: Sherrod, pp. 3–4, via James Merriman; “Our crew and squadron”: Merriman, correspondence with author, April 18, 2013; “broken the back of the Jap” and “a great fighting team”: quoted in captions, unnamed photographer, May 25, 1944; Lindbergh’s flight over Rabaul: Charles Lindbergh, “Thoughts of a Combat Pilot,” Saturday Evening Post, October 2, 1954, p. 47; “It was very exciting”: McMurria, p. 69; “Skin and bones”: Holguin manuscript, p. 98; “The problem with sanitation”: McMurria, author interview, April 11, 2002; “The potato runs”: Strike Command war diary, March 1944 summary; “Their retribution”: McMurria, Trial and Triumph, p. 87; “At the end of 1944”: Nason manuscript, p. 98; “Of all the prisoners”: Holguin, p. 63.

  Chapter 23: Glory

  “The flying, gunnery, and bombing”: Shaw and Kane, p. 80; “The rice supply”: Okawara, author interview; “a very famous man” and “Don’t worry”: Holguin, pp. 85–86; “I tried to rouse them”: Kepchia, author interview; “The Americans are destroying the cities”: Holguin, p. 90; “We did not cheer”: Nason manuscript, p. 129; “Uncontrollable emotion”: ibid., p. 92; “It was as if an unseen hand”: Harding, “Surrender of the Japanese Southeastern Army” press release, September 6, 1945; “short and stubby” and details of surrender ceremony: ibid.; “Get these men”: McMurria, author interview; “Lucky Strike green had gone to war”: McMurria, Trial and Triumph, p. 135; “was only the beginning”: ibid.

  Epilogue

  “Their interpreter said”: Vahry, author interview, September 24, 2011; “There was a bit of innuendo”: ibid.

  Index

  Able, Johnnie J., Jr., 75, 81

  Adachi, Hatazo, 93

  Admiralty Islands, 25, 48, 131, 321, 336

  Airmen’s Memorial School, 362

  Alcorn, John, 86

  Aldrich, Donald A., 300, 304

  American Volunteer Group (AVG), 269–270

  Anacker, Lyle E. “Rip,” 155–158

  Anderson, Hugh W., 112

  Arbuckle, John M., 255, 295

  Arnold, Henry H. “Hap,” 13–17, 82, 83, 92, 115, 130

  Ashmun, George M., 292–294

  Aso, Tetsuo, 138

  Atkiss, Donald D., 339, 354

  Atwell, Tom G., 206, 209

  Bagdanovich, Michael E., 223–224

  Bailey, John P., 256

  Bailey, Marion “Dan,” 274, 283

  Baird, Julian B., 152, 154, 159

  Ballale airdrome, 40

  Ballentine, John J., 220

  Barber, Rex T., 125

  Barnett, Paul T., 203, 206, 210–213

  Barrett, Francis A. “Frank,” 240

  Barron, John M., 182

  Bartholf, John L., 312

  Bartl, Harry R., 286

  Bearrs, Edwin C., 247

  Bedkober, Douglas N., 318

  Bek, Philip L., 67, 255–256

  Bena Bena, 84, 90–91, 93

  Benn, William G., 10, 31, 85–86

  Berry, Alexander R., 52, 122–123

  Bescos, Julius “Julie,” 212

  Best, Ezra “Easy,” 100

  Bismarck Archipelago, 2, 20, 25, 234, 350–351

  Bismarck Sea, 9, 11, 13–14

  Blackburn, John T., 222, 228–229

  Blackburn, Tom, 300, 302

  Blamey, Thomas, 357

  Bliss, Arthur D., 240

  The Bob Hope Show, 337

  Bong, Richard I., 39, 165–166, 172, 218, 299

  Bonis airdrome, 197

  Bonner, Hughie “Slim,” 150

  Boram airfield, 41, 94, 99, 102, 107

  Bougainville, 20, 25–27, 40, 73, 75, 77, 122, 132, 175, 229–230, 264–269, 291, 297

  Boulton, William T. M., 136, 141

  Bowman, Richard V., 301

  Boyington, Gregory, 268–272, 273–274, 276–289, 292–295, 297, 299–300, 313

  Bragdon, Robert M., 278

  Bratton, Kenneth, 211–212

  Brett, George H., 9

  Brewer, George W., 303–306

  Brindos, Roger H., 302

  Britton, John T., 80, 81

  Brockenbrough, Austin, 267

  Brubaker, James E., 280

  Buin airbase, 73

  Buka airdrome, 197

  Buka Island, 73–76

  Bullis, Harry J., 167–169

  Bulova, Arde, 15

  Buna, 10, 20, 24, 32, 34

  Burke, Arleigh A., 316

  Burnette, Leslie H., 3–5, 7, 49, 254

  Burnside, Ernest W., 64, 256

  Burrus, Harlan J., 223, 255–256

  But airdrome, 41, 94, 102, 104, 107

  Byrne, Phyllis, 163

  Caldwell, Howard H., 196, 202–206, 206, 210–212

  Campbell, Jack L., 65

  Cape Gloucester, 26, 92, 115, 132

  Cape Wom, 41

  Carby, Henry C., 225–226

  Carl, Marion E., 274, 279–281, 285, 287–288, 299

  Carlson, John W., 169

  Carlson, T. W. “Bert,” 240–241

  Carmichael, Dick, 221

  Carnagey, Pierre M., 279–280, 284

  Carney, Robert B., 131, 201

  Casale, Joseph M., 99

  Cascio, Paul J., Jr., 74, 255

  Case, Virgil J., 221, 225, 231–233, 244, 246

  Cassady, John H., 197, 201–202

  Cassidy, Ronald C., 254

  Cecil, Frank M., 184–185

  Chatham, Rufus M. “Mack,” 293

  Cheli, Ralph, 105–106, 108–113, 251, 324, 326

  Chennault, Claire, 270

  Chicago Tribune, 142

  Chovanec, Jindrich L. “Henry,” 84

  Christie, Ralph W., 237

  Churchill, Winston, 14, 24, 142

  Claire, Albert George “Bert,” 141

  Cleage, Ralph T., 140

  Clifton, Joseph C., 196, 199, 203–206, 208–209

  Colliers, 299

  Coltharp, Chester A., 179

  Cooper,
Merian C., 72, 82

  Coral Sea, 20

  Cornelius, Hugh L., 312, 344

  Cosmopolitan, 299

  Cox, Williston M., Jr., 112, 251, 254

  Cragg, Edward “Porky,” 177

  Crawford, Earl B., 210

  Crews, Edsal J., 140

  Crockett, Stanley K., 205, 211–212

  Cromie, Robert, 142, 145

  Culver, William W., 222–223

  Cunningham, John, 188

  Curry, Robert A., 63, 255

  Czarnecki, Edward J., 165, 190, 243, 248

  Dagua airfield, 41, 94, 99, 103–104, 107–109, 111

  Davies, John H. “Big Jim,” 17, 41

  Dawes, Alan, 105

  Deptula, Anthony T., 185

  Dieffenderfer, James C., 30

  Dillman, Forrest E., 78, 81

  Dobodura, 35, 39, 41–43, 62, 73–74, 90

  Donegan, John M., 109–110

  Dosé, Robert G., 204

  Downs, James A., 165–166

  Doyle, Thomas F., 4–7, 45–46, 254, 326, 341

  Duke of York Islands, 316

  Dunmore, George P. “Ace,” 143

  Dunn, Richard L., 192–193, 287

  Durand airdrome, 105

  Dustin, J. Cameron, 268, 286

  East Magnificent Love Line brothel, 57, 124

  Echols, Oliver, 14

  Ellis, Richard H., 187

  Emerton, James G., 141–142

  Emirau Island, 336–337

  Emminger, Robert S., 101

  Emmons, Delos C., 29

  Emrick, Paul E., 223

  Engle, Fred S., 6–7, 254

  Eniwetok Atoll, 313

  Erskine, Walter R., 6–7

  Espiritu Santo, 129–130

  Evers, Willis F., 178

  Farmer, Thomas, 101, 105

  Farnell, Raymond J., Jr., 7, 254, 326

  Faulkner, Cecil L., 1–2

  Faulkner, Lawrence M., 279

  Feldt, Eric A., 234–236

  Fellows, Jack, 78

  Fenwick, John, 318

  Figgis, Peter E., 235–249, 299

  Finschhafen, 25–26, 89, 115, 128–129

  Fitch, Aubrey W., 267

  Fitzgerald, John J., 318, 325

  Fogarty, John E., 139

  Foley, Robert J., 248

  Foote, Robert E., 286

  Foss, Joe, 299, 337

  Fox, Jack, 93

  Fox, Roger K., 185

  Fox, Thomas H., 74

  Freas, Charles R., 99

  Freeman, Trevor O., 275–277

  Fridge, Benjamin W., 177, 179

  Fuller, Robert H., 99

  Furlong, Thomas E., Jr., 254

  Galatian, Andrew B., Jr., 335–336

  Gallagher, James P., 161

  Gasmata airdrome, 66, 92, 115, 241, 246

  Gasteb, Kenneth G., 161

  Gavan, John D. “Mickey,” 196, 202

  Gay, William N., 101–105, 109

  Geddes, Joseph W., 63

  Geneva Convention, 56, 257

  George, Robert E., 64, 256

  Gerstner, Andrew, 49

  Ghormley, Robert L, 21, 23, 25

  Giertsen, Owen, 190, 243, 248

  Gilbert Islands, 19, 131, 219

  Glyer, John C., 99

  Goff, Edward R., 65

  Golpak, 238–240, 242–243

  Goodenough Island, 37–38

  Government Aid for Reconstruction of Occupied Areas (GAROA), 361

  Grandolpho, Patsy F., 5–7

  Green, Charles H., Jr., 74

  Green Islands, 312–313, 329, 336–337

  Griffin, Joel W., 68, 254

  Guadalcanal, 20, 23–25, 34, 40, 73

  Gunn, Paul I. “Pappy,” 11, 93

  Gunville, Ralph L., 222

  Hall, Donald P., 102–103, 136–137

  Halsey, William F., III, 195, 201

  Halsey, William F. “Bull,” 13, 25, 26, 71–72, 75, 90, 126, 129, 131–132, 193–194, 196, 200–202, 217–219, 229–230, 263, 267, 270–272, 312, 336–337

  Hamano, Kisaku, 65, 67

  Hampson, Fred, 285, 289

  Hansa Bay, 89

  Hanson, Robert M., 300–306

  Hara, Tameichi, 121–122, 174–175, 182–183, 192, 203–204, 213, 215

  Harding, B. A., 357

  Hardy, George M., Jr., 157

  Hargesheimer, Frederic G. “Hargy,” 74, 242–243, 248, 361–362

  Harmon, Millard F. “Miff”, 130

  Harper, Edwin A., 285

  Harper, Marvin B., 196, 202, 206, 218, 220

  Harrington, Robert F., 204, 206

  Harris, William C., 182

  Hassemer, David W., 35

  Hata, Ikuhiko, 113

  Hathorn, Vincent W., 208

  Hawkins, Philip H., 103, 105

  Haynes, William O., Jr., 226

  Hearn, Walter J., 187–188

  Hecox, Thane C., Jr., 155

  Heichel, Byron L. “Dutch,” 61, 255

  Henderson, Robert T., 157–158, 242, 244, 245

  Henebry, John P. “Jock,” 108, 136–137, 174, 177, 183–184, 186–187

  Henrich, Richard C., 108, 110

  Herring, George Albert, 141

  Herry, Robert L., 112

  Hewitt, Joseph, 255, 265

  Hickam Field, Hawaii, 13

  Hicko, Edward J., 157–158

  Hill, James J., 292

  Hirano, Enosuke, 353–354

  Hirohito, Emperor, 40, 264, 355

  Hoffacker, Victor A., 105

  Holguin, Jose L. “Joe,” 69–70, 112–113, 122–126, 134, 146, 148, 173, 180, 323–326, 339, 341–343, 347, 352–355, 361

  Honda, Chikaki “Edward,” 277, 295, 313, 340

  Hope, Bob, 337

  Hopper, Raymond E., 271–272

  Howe, Charles W., 187

  Hungerpiller, James A., 185

  Hustad, Carl A., 30–31

  Hutcheson, Mike, 361

  Hyland, Norman D., 166

  Ichikawa, Michitaro, 68

  Ichikawa, Yasuto, 118–120

  Ijuin, Matsuji, 121–122, 176, 182

  Imamura, Hitoshi, 51, 93, 95, 117, 313–314, 321, 330–331, 350, 355, 357–358

  Irifune, Naosaburo, 261

  Ishi-i, Shizuo, 167

  Ishler, Weldon, 157

  Iwamoto, Tetsuo, 306–307, 309, 314

  Iwano, Hiroshi, 78, 316–317

  Izawa, Yasuho, 113

  Jackson Field, Port Moresby, 30, 35, 37

  James, Myles C., 207

  Japan Times, 133

  Jensen, Alvin J., 125

  Johnson, Alfred L., 292

  Johnson, Gerald R., 149, 165, 190

  Johnson, Keith, 240

  Johnson, Stanley, 218

  Johnston, Ruby E., 76–77, 79

  Johokyoku (Information Bureau), 39, 41, 229, 263–264

  Jones, Charles D., 278–279

  Kairiru Island, 41, 46–49

  Kamiyama, Masao, 224

  Kane, Yoshihara, 113

  Kato, Rimpei, 51, 266

  Kavieng, 25, 115, 131

  Kawamoto, Shinichi, 328

  Kawato, Masajiro, 276–277

  Kearby, Neel E., 128, 133–134

  Keatts, Robert N., 61

  Keefe, Francis G., 351–352

  Keith, Samuel M., 335

  Keller, Robert P., 333, 337–338

  Kelly, Cephas L., 52, 124, 254

  Kemper, Guy H., 279

  Kendrick, George E., 76, 81–86

  Kenney, George Churchill, 9–11, 13–17, 27, 29, 31–33, 35–43, 64–67, 72–74, 83–87, 89–93, 95, 110–111, 115–116, 127, 131–133, 146–147, 150–151, 159, 191–192, 219, 263, 267, 291, 350

  Kepchia, John B., 339, 342, 352–353

  Keravat airdrome, 334

  Keyes, Woody H., 189–190

  Kicera, Michael H., 182

  Kieta airdrome, 253–254

  Kikuchi, Satoru, 50–51, 56, 123, 266, 323–324, 327, 358

  Kimihira,
Masatake, 321, 323, 328–329

  King, Ernest J., 13, 19, 21, 23–24, 147, 336

  Kirby, Marion F., 163, 181–183, 218

  Kiriwina Island, 26–27, 72, 73, 90, 132

  Kiyama, Tatsuo, 255, 261

  Kiyomiya, Hagane, 213–214

  Klages, Kay W. “Joe,” 134

  Kobayashi, Gintaro, 264

  Koga, Miniechi, 41, 174–175, 193, 203–204, 229–230, 263, 308, 314

  Komachi, Sadamu, 307, 309

  Koon, Ralph E. “Zipper,” 86

  Koscelnak, Robert J., 112

  Kozono, Yasuna, 59–60, 64, 70

  Krantz, William F. “Red,” 220–221, 223–226, 231–233, 244–246, 249

  Krasnickas, Alfred R., 180

  Kudo, Shigetoshi, 60, 62–64, 67–70

  Kurano, Teruo, 138

  Kurita, Takeo, 193, 199, 203–204

  Kusaka, Jinichi, 34, 56, 116–117, 121, 128, 129–131, 150–151, 171, 174–175, 203–204, 213–214, 227, 229, 264, 308–312, 314, 333, 357–358, 360

  Kwajalein Atoll, 313

  Lackness, Berdines, 101, 104–105

  Lae, 9, 19, 23, 25–26, 37–38, 55, 89, 93, 115, 127–129

  Lakunai airdrome, 30, 37, 56, 60–62, 64–65, 68, 127, 136, 143, 152, 163, 167–170, 221, 298, 301, 311, 314, 334

  Laloki airdrome, 38

  Lamarre, Joseph, 254, 256

  Langford, Frances, 337