Case Studies in the Achievement of Air Superiority - Air Force ...

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
RAAF Beauforts began striking that base on New Ireland. These efforts
were supplemented by low-level B-25 and A-20 strikes on January 15
which cost 4 B-25s and 2 A-20s. Already Kavieng had been savaged by
bombers and fighters from Bunker Hill and Monterey on December 25,
December 26, and January 5. During January COMAIRSOLS sent over
Rabaul 180 B-25 sorties, 368 SBD sorties, 227 TBF sorties, and 1,850
sorties by Navy and Marine F4Us and F6Fs, Army P-38s and New
Zealand P-40~. Despite reinforcements, Rabaul was rapidly weakening
by the end of January.42
South Pacific forces made 32 strikes on Rabaul in January and were
intercepted 27 times by an average of 47 Japanese aircraft. Allied fighters
and bombers claimed to have shot down 471 of these interceptors, but on
January 30 more than 30 planes rose to defend their b.ises. The Japanese
continued to send in reinforcements. During the first 19 days of February,
Allied bombers flew 1,336 sorties, but it is significant that the number of
fighter sorties was proportionately less, only 1,579. With the harbor practically
empty of shipping, the light bombers turned to antiaircraft installations
while the heavy and medium bombers struck at runways and dispersal
areas. On February 19, the usual strike on Rabaul was intercepted by about
50 fighters. Except for a few single-plane incidents, this was the last interception.
On the date noted, February 19, American carrier forces struck
Fifth Air Force Commander, Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney (right) and his
Deputy Commander, Maj. Gen. Ennis C. Whitehead (center), meet
with Lt. Gen. William S. Knudsen, a visitor to the base on New
Guinea.
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