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 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > February 1943



Monday, 1 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb the runway and aircraft dispersal areas at Rabaul, New Britain Island. In New Guinea, a lone B-24 bombs the runway at Finchhafen, then flies east to New Britain Island where it bombs the runway at Cape Gloucester and unsuccessfully attacks a ship in Open Bay.

Tuesday, 2 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb the airfield at Rabaul. B-24s attack shipping between Lolobau Island and New Britain and north of Open Bay, bomb Gasmata Island runway and hit Timika. In New Guinea, A-20s continue to bomb and strafe positions on the high points between Mubo and Komiatum. The 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-24s transfers from Iron Range, Queensland, Australia to Darwin,  Northern Territory, Australia

Wednesday, 3 February, 1943

In New Guinea, A-20s continue to strike along the Mubo-Komiatum Track. B-25s bomb Dobo on Wamar Island. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s and B-24s attack the runway on Gasmata Island, Simpson Harbor, the Cape Gazelle area and the airfield at Cape Gloucester.

Thursday, 4 February, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s and B-25s bomb Lae Airfield and harbor and nearby AA positions, and hit forces in the Mubo, Komiatum, Zaka and Wau areas.  Japanese forces begin retreating in disorder from the Wau area toward Mubo. In the Bismarck Archipelago, heavy bombers hit the airfields at Rabaul, Gasmata Island and Cape Gloucester, score hits on a vessel off Arawe, and attack small boats at Lorengau, sinking 1 boat. HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 19th and 33d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) with B-26s transfer from Iron Range, Queensland, Australia to Woodstock, New South Wales, Australia. The group, which has been in combat since Apr 42, ceased combat operations in Jan 43 for R and R. The B-26s of the 19th are overhauled and stripped of all paint and bear the title "The Silver Fleet." The 33d, and the group's other two squadrons, the 2d and 408th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) at Reid River, Queensland, Australia, begin transitioning from B-26s to B-25Ds.

Friday, 5 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb Rabaul Airfield on New Britain Island. Heavy bombers carry out individual attacks on shipping off Papua and New Britain Island and hit the town of Rabaul and the airfield on Gasmata Island. In the Moluccas Islands, B-24s blast docks and shipping at Amboina. In New Guinea, B-25s hit Dobo. A-20s continue to bomb and strafe forces around Zaka, Sappa, Mubo and Gona.

Saturday, 6 February, 1943

In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe forces along the track from Mubo to Komiatum to Salamaua and hit the enemy in the Mambare River delta. An Australian coast watcher reports that there are 60+ Japanese aircraft on Lae Aerodrome; the Fifth Air Force dispatches 7 B-25s, 1 B-24, 22 P-38s, 11 P-39s, 5 P-400s and 8 P-40s plus 5 Royal Australian Air Force Beaufighters to attack the airfield. When they arrive, they find the aircraft gone; the Japanese are attacking Wau Airfield. The airfield is attacked and bombed and on the way back to base, the Allied aircraft encounter 9 Japanese bombers escorted by several dozen Zekes. In the melee that follows, we claim 25 aircraft shot down without any losses; 12 Zekes were shot down by the P-39s and P-400s of the 40th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group while the 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group with P-40s claim 7. A single B-24 hits cargo vessels off Finschhafen and Powell Point, claiming 1 vessel destroyed, and attacks troop barges in Riebeck Bay, causing several casualties. The 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group with P-39s and P-400s transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. This unit has been operating in New Guinea since July, 1942.

Sunday, 7 February, 1943

In New Guinea, a single B-24 bombs Dobo and Babo, while another bombs Timika and Kaukenau

Monday, 8 February, 1943

In New Guinea, A-20s pound Japanese forces in the Mubo area; B-25s bomb the Dobo town area. In the Bismarck Archipelago, a single B-24 bombs the airfield on Gasmata Island

Tuesday, 9 February, 1943

In the Celebes, B-24s bomb Kendari Airfield. In New Guinea, A-20s hit the Malahang area.

Wednesday, 10 February, 1943

HQ 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and its 320th and 321st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) with B-24s transfer from Iron Range, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Thursday, 11 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s carry out a predawn harassing strike over Rabaul on New Britain Island.

Friday, 12 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24s, operating individually, attack a sawmill at Ubili, a runway at Cape Gloucester, and the harbor and airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island, and score a possible hit on a 6,000-ton vessel in the Solomon Sea between New Britain Island and Bougainville Island in the Solomons.

Saturday, 13 February, 1943

In New Guinea, A-20s pound forces in and around Mubo while B-25s hit the Lae area. In the Bismarck Archipelago, a single B-24 bombs the sawmill area at Ubili and a B-17 hits targets of opportunity in the Rabaul area.

Sunday, 14 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s and B-24s pound the Rabaul area, and also bomb the Kokopo area, Watom Islands, vessels off Kokop and off Cape Nelson; individual B-24s hit the sawmill at Ubili. In New Guinea, individual B-24s attack the Madang area while B-25s bomb the airfield at Lae.

Monday, 15 February, 1943

On New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s again bomb the town of Rabaul and hit the area nearby west of Simpson Harbor. A single B-17 attacks Rapopo Airfield. In the Celebes, B-24s pound shipping and the town area at Amboina, Ceram Island, Netherlands East Indies. In New Guinea, B-25s pound supply dumps at Malahang. B-24s operating singly bomb the runway at Finschhafen, and claim a direct hit on a vessel in Stettin Bay. On Portugese Timor, B-25s attack the town and airfield of Dili.

Tuesday, 16 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb a warehouse at Ubili on New Britain Island. In New Guinea, B-25s bomb Malahang Airfield and strafe targets of opportunity on the Salamaua peninsula.

Wednesday, 17 February, 1943

On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24s, operating individually, strike Gasmata Airfield and Pondo Harbor, Bobo and the sawmill at Ubili.

Thursday, 18 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24s unsuccessfully attack shipping off Cape Gloucester and Cape Orford. In New Guinea, B-25s bomb the Barar area. Individual B-24s bomb the Finschhafen landing ground and the Madang area. In Portugese Timor, B-25s unsuccessfully attack shipping off Dili. The 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group with C-47s transfers from Archerfield Airdrome near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Friday, 19 February, 1943

In the Solomons, B-17s bomb shipping and a seaplane base between Buin and Faisi, Bougainville Island and at Ballale Island and hit the Kahili Airfield on Bougainville. In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe forces in the Butibum and Angari areas. B-24s carry out single-plane attacks agains shipping at Salamaua, New Guinea, off Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island and at Gasmata Island

Saturday, 20 February, 1943

B-17s bomb a landing ground at Kahili, Bougainville Island, and at Ballale Island in the Solomons, and Gasmata Airfield in the Bismarck Archipelago.

Sunday, 21 February, 1943

In the Celebes, B-24s bomb the harbor and shipping at Amboina, Ambon Island, Netherlands East Indies. In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe several occupied villages and tracks throughout the Mubo-Komiatum-Salamaua region.

Monday, 22 February, 1943

In the Admiralties, a B-24 hits Lorengau Airfield on Manus Island. In New Guinea, B-25s pound the Lae area while to the south A-20s hit forces at Buibuining, Waipali, Guadagasal and along trails in the surrounding areas. A single B-17 bombs Lae. The 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group with P-39s and P-400s transfers from Milne Bay, New Guinea to Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. The 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group with C-47s transfers from Garbutt, Australia to Archerfield Airdrome near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Tuesday, 23 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb the town and harbor area of Rabaul on New Britain Island. In New Guinea, A-20s continue to pound the occupied villages and trails in the Buibuining-Waipali and Guadagasal-Mubo areas. B-25s bomb and strafe Angari and Yangla.

Wednesday, 24 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s again hit shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island. In New Guinea, A-20s continue to attack forces at the Guadagasal Saddle, Waipali, trails from Waipali to the Guadagasal Saddle and Mubo, and in the area of the Waria River mouth. B-25s pound Lae, Angari, Yangla, the Malahang landing strip, and smaller villages in the area. B-24s continue single-plane harassing strikes on shipping and airfields in coastal areas of Portugese and northeastern New Guinea and in the Solomon Sea off Cape Saint George. HQ 8th Fighter Group and its 35th Fighter Squadron P-39s and P-400s transfer from Milne Bay, New Guinea to Mareeba, Queensland, Australia.

Thursday, 25 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, heavy bombers continue to attack shipping, airfields, and the town area at Rabaul, New Britain Island. The airfield on Gasmata Island is also bombed. In New Guinea, A-20s again bomb and strafe forces at the Guadagasal Saddle and vicinity.

Friday, 26 February, 1943

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s and B-24s bomb the airfield on Gasmata Island. In New Guinea, A-20s hit the Buibuining-Waipali area while a single B-17 bombs the airfields at Lae and Salamaua. Other B-17s attack shipping and the airfield at Wewak and a single B-17 attacks shipping in Hixon and Open Bays.

Saturday, 27 February, 1943

In New Guinea, B-25s hit Japanese-occupied villages in the Labu area. B-17s, operating individually, strafe a schooner off Matiu Point and bomb Finschhafen Airfield.

Sunday, 28 February, 1943

In New Guinea, a lone B-17 bombs Lae Airfield.