Target: Rabaul: The Allied Siege of Japan's Most Infamous Stronghold, March 1943 - August 1945
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Type 99 20mm automatic cannons, 60
Type 99 light bomber. See Ki-48 “Lily” (Kawasaki)
Type 100 reconnaissance plane. See Ki-46 “Dinah” (Mitsubishi)
Zero. See Reisen “Zero”
Military Units
Allied Combat Air Patrol (CAP), 120
Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB), 235–236, 248
Lion Force, 248
American
South Pacific Area Command (SOPAC), 16, 21, 23, 25–26, 131–132, 200, 263, 336
Southwest Pacific Area (SOWESPAC) Command, 9, 14–16, 23, 25–26, 132, 267, 350
U.S. Army
2nd Raider Regiment, 175
112th Cavalry Regiment, 246
871st Airborne Engineers, 91
Central Identification Lab, 361
Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee (JANAC), 147
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), 11, 14–15, 19, 21, 23, 26–27, 71, 131, 321, 336
Joint Strategic Survey Committee, 131
Special Task Air Group (STAG)-1, 349–350
U.S. Army Air Force
3rd Attack Group, 42
Fourth Air Force, 29
Fifth Air Force, 9, 16, 31, 42, 72–73, 83–87, 100, 135, 165, 169–170, 174, 192, 199–200, 219, 221, 263, 291, 313
3rd Bombardment Group, 17, 92, 100, 102, 104–105, 107, 136–139, 173–174, 183–184, 186–190
89th Bombardment Squadron, 42
90th Bombardment Squadron, 93, 100, 102, 104–105, 136–139, 174, 187–188
V Bomber Command, 16–17, 29–31, 33, 41, 55, 61–62, 67–68, 70, 115, 146, 219
V Fighter Command, 37, 90, 92, 100, 146
8th Fighter Group, 92
8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 73–75, 95, 105, 132, 134, 146, 163, 238
22nd Bombardment Group, 75
35th Fighter Group, 91, 92, 100
39th Fighter Squadron, 92, 142–143, 178, 218
40th Fighter Squadron, 95
41st Fighter Squadron, 96–97
38th Bombardment Group, 92–93, 107, 108–112, 135, 139–141, 153, 158, 173, 183–186
71st Bombardment Squadron, 93, 100, 104, 110, 139–141, 184–185
405th Bombardment Squadron, 93, 100, 112, 139–141, 153
43rd Bombardment Group, 33, 35, 52, 61, 66, 68, 75, 82–87, 95, 98, 142–143, 145–146, 153, 163, 167, 169, 171–173, 218
63rd Bombardment Squadron, 30–31, 36, 61–62, 85, 107
64rd Bombardment Squadron, 33, 35, 63–64, 74, 107, 153, 171
65th Bombardment Squadron, 35, 68, 75, 143
403rd Bombardment Squadron, 99–100, 142, 146, 150, 169
49th Fighter Group, 92, 100
9th Fighter Squadron, 39, 135, 149–150, 165, 172, 218
80th Fighter Squadron, 142, 144, 166, 177–178
90th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 1, 3, 68, 83–87, 95, 98, 103, 108, 142–145, 163, 167–173
319th Bombardment Squadron, 143
320th Bombardment Squadron, 99, 143
321st Bombardment Squadron, 1–2, 65, 84, 99, 143–144
400th Bombardment Squadron, 142–145, 153, 169, 200
345th Bombardment Group, 93, 135, 139–141, 151–154, 158, 162, 165, 173, 177–182, 190, 327
498th Bombardment Squadron, 153–154, 180
499th Bombardment Squadron, 154, 162, 179, 182
500th Bombardment Squadron, 152, 154, 179–180, 315
501st Bombardment Squadron, 153–154, 181–182, 315
348th Fighter Group, 16, 93, 128, 133
380th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 66, 68, 83
475th Fighter Group, 92, 100, 110, 135, 151, 165, 177–182
431st Fighter Squadron, 97–98, 110, 163, 165, 177, 181, 190
432nd Fighter Squadron, 139, 165, 168, 177
433rd Fighter Squadron, 140
Seventh Air Force, 83
5th Bombardment Group, 130, 278, 288–289
72nd Bombardment Squadron, 288
VII Amphibious Force, 90
11th Bombardment Group, 129–130, 130
Eighth Air Force, 123
8th Bombardment Squadron, 93, 100, 102–105, 108, 136–139, 165–166, 173–174, 190
13th Bombardment Squadron, 93, 100, 102–105, 136–139, 166–167, 174, 187–188
Thirteenth Air Force, 73, 129–130, 263, 267, 278, 292, 302, 350
XIII Bomber Command, 130, 323
XIII Fighter Command, 130
18th Fighter Group
44th Fighter Squadron, 281, 297
42nd Bombardment Group, 298, 334
307th Bombardment Group, 278, 291
435th Reconnaissance Squadron, 24
Advanced Echelon (ADVON) at Port Moresby, 17, 31, 41, 65, 67, 72, 89, 133
Far East Air Force, 350
U.S. Marine Corps, 13, 129, 267, 269–270, 316, 335
1st Marine Air Wing (MAW), 272, 360
1st Marine Division, 24, 131, 247
2nd Marine Division, 131
3rd Marine Division, 175, 199
4th Marine Regiment, 336
7th Marine Regiment, 247
87th Construction Battalion, 171
Air Group 3: 194
Air Group 9
Fighting Squadron 9: 221, 226
Torpedo Squadron 9: 223, 225, 229
Air Group 12: 196–197, 202
Bombing Squadron 12: 196, 204, 208, 222
Fighting Squadron 12: 196–197, 204, 206, 209
Torpedo Squadron 12: 196, 223
Air Group 17
Bombing Squadron 17: 220, 224, 228–229
Fighting Squadron 17 (Blackburn’s Irregulars): 203, 222, 227–229, 268, 300, 303, 339
Torpedo Squadron 17: 223–224, 225–226
Air Group 18
Fighting Squadron 18: 222
Air Group 21: 271
Air Group 22
Composite Squadron 22: 225
Air Group 23: 202
Composite Squadron 23: 204, 209
Fighting Squadron 23: 204, 206
Air Group 33
Fighting Squadron 33: 203, 222, 227, 280–281, 283, 288, 339
Air Group 40
Fighting Squadron 40: 283
Air Group 115
Fighting Squadron 115: 299, 337
Air Group 123
Fighting Squadron 123, 318
Air Group 143
Bombing Squadron 143: 311
Air Group 212
Fighting Squadron 212: 268
Air Group 214: 125, 271, 273–278, 280–281, 283–287, 289–294
Fighting Squadron 214 (Black Sheep): 268–269, 272, 276, 280–281, 283, 286, 292–294, 297, 299–300
Air Group 215
Fighting Squadron 215: 268, 300–301, 303, 318
Air Group 216: 285, 297
Fighting Squadron 216: 269, 279, 285, 286
Air Group 221
Fighting Squadron 221: 133
Air Group 222
Fighting Squadron 222: 278, 281, 352
Air Group 223
Fighting Squadron 223: 274, 283, 285–286, 293, 297, 333, 337
Air Group 232
Bombing Squadron 232: 299
Air Group 233
Bombing Squadron 233: 312
Air Group 241
Bombing Squadron 241: 310, 316
Air Group 305
Torpedo Squadron 305: 338–339
Air Group 321
Fighting Squadron 321: 286, 301–302
Air Group 341
Bombing Squadron 341: 298
Air Group 413
Bombing Squadron 413: 335–336
Air Group 744: 313
Marine Air South Pacific (MASP), 267
Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 143: 52
Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232: 245
U.S. Navy
3rd New Zealand Division, 312
71st Naval Construction Battalion, 263, 267
Destroyer Division 15: 219
Destroyer Squadron 12: 317
Destroyer Squadron 22: 317
Task Force 11: 19
Task Force 36: 196
Task Force 38: 197, 199, 201, 210, 213, 217, 219
Task Force 39: 193, 199
Task Force 58: 313
Task Group 50.3: 219, 221–223
Australian
Royal Australian Army, 358
1st Independent Company, 239
2/22 Battalion, 235
5th Infantry Division, 350
9th Division, 127–128
II Corps, 350
Lark Force, 235–236, 246, 350, 356
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), 38, 84, 92, 103, 128–129, 135, 199–200, 313, 360–361
6 Squadron, 265
8 Squadron, 149, 265
No. 9 Operational Group, 89, 115, 255, 265
11 Squadron, 127, 340
20 Squadron, 127
24 Squadron, 132, 141
30 Squadron, 92, 135–136, 141–142
Royal Australian Navy (RAN), 234, 357–358
Japanese
Imperial Army, 257
5th Airfield Construction Units, 94
6th Field Kempeitai, 47, 51, 122, 266, 327–328, 334, 339, 352, 357
Eighth Area Army, 51, 105, 321
10th Airfield Construction Units, 94
17th Infantry Division, 247
Eighteenth Army, 93, 113, 252
20th Infantry Division, 4, 129
31st Field Road Construction Unit, 117
38th Infantry Division, 321
39th Infantry Division, 232nd Regiment, 259
51st Airfield Battalion, 111
60th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, 138
Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Unit (Unit 731), 353–354
Fourth Air Army, 95, 113, 156
Imperial General Headquarters, 19, 34, 95
Imperial Army Air Force, 3–4
9th Flying Brigade, 112
10th Flying Regiment, 169
13th Flying Regiment, 74, 99, 113
14th Flying Brigade, 133
14th Flying Regiment, 138
20th Flying Regiment, 138
24th Flying Regiment, 98
59th Flying Regiment, 98, 108, 112
68th Flying Regiment, 55, 113
68th Sentai (Flying Regiment), 94
78th Flying Regiment, 113
208th Flying Regiment, 96, 138
Fourth Air Army, 113
Imperial Navy, 3, 20, 55, 257, 360
First Carrier Fleet, 264
1st Carrier Division, 227, 263
2nd Carrier Division, 308
2nd Special Naval Base Force, 47
Third Fleet, 39, 55
Eighth Fleet, 121, 129, 174–175, 193, 213
81st Naval Garrison Unit, 52, 61, 64, 74, 241, 253, 255–256, 265, 295, 320
Destroyer Division 27: 121
Destroyer Squadron 10: 224
Southeast Area Fleet, 51
Imperial Navy Aviation
5th Air Attack Force, 60
Eleventh Air Fleet, 34, 37, 40, 56, 89–90, 116, 119–120, 128–129, 134, 150–151, 165, 170, 175, 178, 206, 223, 247, 263–264, 277, 283, 291, 302
Sixth Air Attack Force, 308
21st Air Flotilla, 130–131
1st Air Attack Force, 56
25th Air Flotilla, 121, 128, 130–131, 168, 316
5th Air Attack Force, 56, 59
26th Air Flotilla, 309
6th Air Attack Force, 56, 308
Air Group 2: 59
Air Group 201: 134, 178, 276, 280, 292
Air Group 204: 30, 134, 139, 141, 143–144, 167, 178, 204, 292–293, 302, 307–308
Air Group 251: 56, 59–60, 70, 77
Air Group 253: 61, 131, 134, 139, 143–144, 155–156, 166, 178, 276, 278, 280, 292, 293, 301, 306, 308, 333, 335
Air Group 501: 206, 209, 280
Air Group 582: 57, 150–151
Air Group 702: 56, 120, 264
Air Group 705: 38, 118, 120
Air Group 751: 38, 131, 141, 315
Air Groups 702: 141
Tainan Air Group, 59–60, 70, 77
New Zealand
New Zealand Army
3rd New Zealand Division, 312
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), 267, 274–275, 278, 283, 297, 330, 351, 352, 360
No. 14 Squadron, 275
No. 16 Squadron, 275
No. 17 Squadron, 298
Ships and Other Vessels
Allied
Birmingham, 264
Bunker Hill, 219–223, 228, 291
Cony, 171
Denver, 264
Edwards, 228
Enterprise, 195, 197
Essex, 219, 221–222, 226–227
Gato, 248
Glory, 357, 360
Greenling, 237, 239
Grouper, 239, 242
Hart, 357
Independence, 219, 221
Intrepid, 313
Kankakee, 199
Langley, 194
Lexington, 19, 194, 196
Monterey, 291
Princeton, 197, 201–205, 209, 212, 217–219, 221–223
Saratoga, 194–197, 199, 201–204, 207, 209–212, 217–218, 221–222
Sigourney, 300
St. Louis, 312
Vendetta, 357, 358
Victorious, 195
Yorktown, 19
Japanese
Aden Maru, 50–51
Agano, 176, 183, 189, 213, 222, 224
Akikaze, 48–49
Amagiri, 208, 213
Atago, 193, 204, 207, 213–214
Chikuma, 193, 207–208, 213
Chokai, 193, 205
Fujinami, 208, 213
Haguro, 176, 183, 189, 191
Hakusan Maru, 186, 188
Hatsukaze, 176
Hayashio, 32
Himalaya Maru, 266–267
Hiyo, 37
Hokuyo Maru, 186
Johore Maru, 155
Junyo, 4–5, 37
Kasuga Maru, 94
Keishu Maru, 148
Kido Butai, 20
Kokai Maru, 315
Kowa Maru, 315
Kumano, 116
Manko Maru, 185, 191
Man Maru, 191
Matsukaze, 299
Maya, 193, 207, 213, 215, 222, 225
Minazuki, 148
Mochizuki, 148
Mogami, 193, 207–208, 213–214
Musashi, 41
Myoko, 176, 183, 191
Naganami, 225
Nagaura, 316
Naruto, 147, 299
Noshiro, 193, 208, 213, 222
Otori, 32
Samidare, 183
Sendai, 176, 182
Shigure, 121, 176, 182–183, 213
Shinko Maru, 191
Shiratsuyu, 183, 191
Shokaku, 174, 178, 223
Suzunami, 224–225
Suzuya, 193, 208
Tachikazi, 148
Takao, 193, 207, 213–215
Tsukushi, 143, 147
Yubari, 222
Zingu Maru, 191
Zuiho, 174, 178, 205, 213, 223, 226
Zuikaku, 37, 174, 178, 205, 213, 223, 226, 306
AFHRA
Lieutenant General George Kenney (above) and Vice Adm. Jinichi Kusaka (below, foreground), not only had phonetically similar names, but they were the top aviation leaders in the Southwest Pacific. Kenney commanded the U.S. Fifth Air Force and all Allied air units in Australia, while Kusaka led the Imperial Navy’s Eleventh Air Fleet and Southeast Area Fleet. They were also the same age, 54, in late 1943.
Henry Sakaida collection
One of the heavies: parked in a large earthen revetment at Seven Mile airdrome (a.k.a. Jackson Field), Port Moresby, B-24D Moby Dick of the 320th Bomb Squadron/90th Bomb Group displays markings typical of early 1943. Many of the D models were later retrofitted with a nose turret for improved frontal protection against fighters. National Archives
A J
eep ambulance awaits casualties from The Old Man, a B-17F of the 64th Bomb Squadron/43rd Bomb Group. Five crewmembers were wounded when Zeros attacked the bomber during a solo reconnaissance mission over Gasmata airdrome on March 8, 1943. Note the rescuers gathered near the rear exit hatch. National Archives
AFHRA (left) and National Archives (right)
Expendables: Two of Kenney’s favorite “kids,” bomber pilot Ken McCullar (above left) and fighter pilot Dick Bong (in the cockpit of a P-38), earned a lion’s share of the glory for the Fifth Air Force in their respective specialties. McCullar, a fearless skip-bombing expert, died in a night takeoff mishap in April 1943. Bong, the top American ace with 40 aerial victories, was killed while testing a new P-80 jet in early August 1945.
The twin-engine Lockheed P-38 Lightning, though a favorite among USAAF fighter pilots in the Southwest Pacific, was not as highly respected by the Japanese as the Grumman F6F Hellcat or Vought F4U Corsair. The twin-boom design of the big fighter is shown to good effect in this stylistic photo, taken in 1943 on Guadalcanal. National Archives
National Archives
For heroic actions during a critical photographic mapping mission over Bougainville on June 16, 1943, pilot Jay Zeamer (above), badly wounded, earned a Medal of Honor, as did the mortally wounded bombardier, Joe Sarnoski (below). The rest of the crew, five of whom were also wounded, received the Distinguished Service Cross.
Dave Armstrong collection
The first low-level attack on the airdrome complex at Wewak caught the Japanese completely by surprise on August 17, 1943. Dozens of planes, lined up for inspection, were destroyed by parafrag bombs and strafing. This remarkable photo was taken over Dagua airdrome during a similar strike in February 1944. AFHRA
Bloody Tuesday: The massed low-altitude attack on November 2, 1943, began with B-25 squadrons dropping two-hundred-pound bombs filled with white phosphorous to suppress enemy antiaircraft guns. One has prematurely detonated in the air south of Malaguna Road, the main east-west thoroughfare, visible in the background. Vic Tatelman collection
Thane Hecox, flying a B-25 of the 500th Squadron/345th Bomb Group, caught sub-chaser CH-23 heading across Blanche Bay on October 18, 1943, and timed his bomb release perfectly. Above, two bombs dropped by another pilot have detonated ahead of the warship, but Hecox’s two bombs have hit the water near the bow. Approximately four seconds later, they exploded (below), blowing off the ship’s bow. Although claimed as destroyed, the vessel was beached to prevent its sinking. AFHRA
Heavy cruiser Hagura (foreground) escaped major damage on November 2, mainly because she was shielded by cargo liner Hakusan Maru (center), which here has just been struck amidships by a heavy bomb. At right, a plume of white smoke rises from a direct hit on the stern of Hokuyo Maru. National Archives