B-17 CC Additional Material by Robert M Stitt

manding officer of the 28 th BS, departed Port Moresby in 41-9234 to lead a five-aircraft bombing strike.
The mission report emphasises the perils and challenges of attacking heavily armed vessels.
The two ships started firing upon the formation as soon as it was first spotted, using anti-aircraft fire
as well as a broadside from their big guns, the shells of which fell into the water short of the formation…
Helton’s bombs hit quite a way short of the destroyer at 16:10.
Early the following day, Helton led another formation to Buna in 41-9234, this time to bomb the
Japanese-held airfield.
Target: Rabaul
Rabaul was the centre of Japanese operations in the region and destroying shipping in its harbour
before it could transfer troops and equipment to forward positions became a preoccupation for Kenney
and Walker. The first mission to Rabaul involving 41-9234 took place on September 15, a 7¾-hour
strike against Japanese shipping in the town’s Simpson Harbour. According to the mission report, 41-
9234 carried a keenly interested but unauthorised observer, General Kenneth Walker.
General Walker and Captain [Jerome] Tarter [Executive Officer for the 28 th BS] made the trip to Moresby
in Captain [Richard] Ezzard’s ship. This ship developed engine trouble on the flight to Moresby and was
found not to be in flying condition for the first mission. Consequently, Capt. Tarter and General Walker
decided to fly the first mission in Capt. Zubko’s ship [41-9234], Capt. Tarter as pilot and Capt. Zubko as
co-pilot, and General Walker as Command Pilot.
…Just before getting on the bombing run, the formation flew into a cloud while turning, and all ships of
the formation became separated. When they broke out, each was in sight of the target, but widely separated,
so each started an individual bombing run on various ships in the harbor... Approximately 15 Zeros were
seen altogether. Five attacked Capt. [Jay] Rousek... scored no hits... The other ships were not reached by the
Zeros…
The following day, September 16, Capt. Boris Zubko was back over Rabaul in 41-9234 as part of
a six-plane operation to attack the airfields at Lakunai and Vunakanau. All six aircraft survived the
concentrated flak and returned safely to Port Moresby, the detachment returning to Mareeba the following
day for a well-earned break. General Walker issued his next mission instructions to the 19 th BG
on September 21.
Confirm verbal orders. Attack shipping Rabaul with one squadron on nights of 22 nd to 25 th September
inclusive. First squadron arrive Seven Mile by 1500K [local time] 22 nd September and perform two missions
remain overnight and return Mareeba upon completion. Second squadron arrive by 1530K 24 th September
to perform second two missions.
Nine B-17s of the 28 th BS, including 41-9234 piloted by Capt. Jay Rousek, departed Mareeba for Port
Moresby on September 22, arriving at 2:30pm that afternoon. Engine problems prevented Rousek and
his crew participating in the first raid that evening, so it was the middle of the following night when
they finally took off for Rabaul as part of the 28 th BS’s second mission. Rousek’s mission report documents
a routine and uneventful operation.
Six planes depart SM at 0015 to 0030 [on September 24]. #41-9234 in wing position in the “B” echelon…
arrived about three o’clock at Rabaul... made one run at 10,500 feet and dropped four bombs on
a ship at the new wharf on the northwest side of the harbour. Bombs observed to hit close to the boat... No
enemy interception.
The next mission for 41-9234, again to Rabaul, followed on 27 September but it too failed to yield
results due to poor weather. Only Lt. Richard T Hernlund in 41-9234 reached the target and he was
forced to jettison his bombs. Lt. Thomas Parkinson faired no better on October 5 when he flew 41-9234
as part of a group sent to attack Lakunai Airdrome.
On October 9, 41-9234 returned to Rabaul, this time as a flare ship with Capt. Edward C Habberstad
at the controls. The Fortress was loaded with seven 300-pound bombs and 20 parachute flares.
[Our] flare ship went across the target just ahead [of the group] and drew moderate A/A and heavy
machine gun fire… Dropped two flares to make observation but found only water below. Flares were seen by
other ships but no contact [with the town of Rabaul] was made.
A week later, on October 16, 1942, 5 th Bomber Command sent the following radio transmission to
the 19 th BG:
Dispatch 2 squadrons 7 Mile immediately. 1 squadron will attack Vunakanau Aerodrome night of
16 th /17 th October and night of 17/18 th October. 1 squadron attack Kahili Aerodrome… night of 16/17 and
night of 17/18 October.
At least seven aircraft from the 30 th BS and ten aircraft from the 28 th BS departed Mareeba for 7-Mile
Airdrome, to be joined by a pair from the 93 rd BS. Lt. Richard Hernlund was again the pilot of 41-9234.
Six aircraft on mission. Attack was to be made starting at 0400 October 18, 1942, individually with the
aid of flares… We were a flare ship and dropped two to three flares at a time alternately at intervals from
0400 to 0500. Flares were dropped from 9,500 feet. Four bombs were dropped on the town as no shipping
Three of 41-9234’s crew
members for its final flight:
Pilot 1 st Lt. Ray S Dau flew
18 B-17 missions over New
Guinea. (via Janice Olson)
2 nd Lt. Donald W Hoggan
was Ray Dau’s co-pilot.
(Donald Hoggan)
Bombardier 2 nd Lt. Albert
V ‘Bud’ Cole was originally
slated to serve with the
427 th BS, 303 rd BG in Europe
but was reassigned to the
Pacific Theatre. (via Janice
Olson)
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