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 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > October 1942



Thursday, 1 October, 1942

In New Guinea, B-17s and P-400s pound forces and communications in the Owen Stanley Range, hitting Menari, Kagi, Myola Lake, the Kokoda area, Wairopi bridge, and the Buna-Wairopi trail; and the 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Bredden Field, Australia to Port Moresby with B-25s.

Friday, 2 October, 1942

In the Owen Stanley Range of New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe Japanese campsites around Myola and hit several trails in the area, while P-400s strafe bridges at Sirorata and Wairopi and a village Northeast of Wairopi. B-17s bomb shipping and airfield at Rabaul on New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

Saturday, 3 October, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe Efogi and Myola Lake, P-40s strafe the Efogi-Buna trail, B-25's hit a bridge at Wairopi, and a lone B-17 bombs a camp on the Kumusi River.

Sunday, 4 October, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s strafe forces and occupied areas at Myola Lake, Kokoda, Wairopi, Yodda, and Buna; a US reconnaissance party from the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division reaches Jauri, completing a reconnaissance of the Kapa Kapa-Jauri trail, which is found to be difficult but practicable for use as a route in a contemplated offensive against the Buna-Gona area.

Monday, 5 October, 1942

In New Guinea, B-25s attack a convoy off Buna; A-20s hit AA positions at Sanananda Point and bomb the village of Sanananda; B-17s bomb airfields at Buna and also hit airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island.

Tuesday, 6 October, 1942

In New Guinea, Fifth AF aircraft complete the movement of the reinforced Australian 18 Brigade to Wanigela on the peninsula between Dyke Acland and Collingwood Bays on the East coast of Papua; this is part of the move aimed at capture of the Buna-Gona area.

Thursday, 8 October, 1942

In New Guinea, B-25s bomb the Buna area while A-20s pound the Buna-Kokoda trail; the Japanese withdrawal Northeast across the Owen Stanley Range slows as they prepare to make a stand at Templeton's Crossing North of Myola.

Friday, 9 October, 1942

30 B-17s pound numerous targets at Rabaul, New Britain Island. In New Guinea, 14 B-25s hit the airfield at Lae; and HQ 49th Fighter Group moves from Darwin, Australia to Port Moresby

Saturday, 10 October, 1942

B-17s pound Rabaul and nearby Lakunai airfield on New Britain Island. In New Guinea, A-20s hit targets along the Buna-Kokoda trail and, with P-400s, strike villages in the area of Asisi and Sanananda; and the 9th Fighter Squadron moves from Darwin, Australia to Port Moresby with P-40s

Sunday, 11 October, 1942

The 22d Troop Carrier Squadron, Air Carrier Service, Air Service Command, Fifth Air Force, moves from Essendon Airdrome to Garbutt Field, Australia with C-47s.

Monday, 12 October, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s hit the village of Isivita and targets on the trail near Wairopi; B-25s bomb Buna, Wairopi bridge, and targets along the Buna-Kokoda trail. The 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Fenton Field from Iron Range, Australia with B-17s.

Tuesday, 13 October, 1942

B-17s again pound Rabaul, New Britain Island, concentrating on Vunakanau and Lakunai Airfields. In New Guinea, a B-17 bombs Buna; and the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, 63d Troop Carrier Group, arrives at Port Moresby from the US with C-47s. The 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Torrens Creek to Iron Range, Australia with B-17s.

Wednesday, 14 October, 1942

In New Guinea, B-25s attack Lae, a bridge 40 miles (64 km) N of Port Moresby, and the area of the Wairopi bridge; on the Kokoda trail Japanese offer fierce resistance to Australians pushing NE in the vicinity of Templeton's Crossing; and Fifth AF aircraft begin flying a force of Australians and Americans to Wanigela.

Thursday, 15 October, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s and P-40s pound forces South of Templeton's Crossing and at Popondetta; B-25s bomb Salamaua and hit targets in the Owen Stanley Range and in the area around the bridge at Wairopi. A single B-17 attacks shipping near Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands.   

Friday, 16 October, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s and B-25s hit the village of Pawaia, trails in the Kokoda area, the Buna-Kokoda trail, and villages at the mouth and along the Mambare River; and B-25s also bomb the Mubo-Salamaua trail. B-17s bomb airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island and attack targets in the Solomon Islands, including the airfield at Buin on Bougainville Island, and shipping off Moila Point and the Shortland Islands.

Saturday, 17 October, 1942

The 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Torrens Creek to Iron Range, Australia with B-17s

Sunday, 18 October, 1942

B-17s attack shipping and aircraft in the Faisi area in the Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, schooners and buildings at Lorengau on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Kahili Airfield, and shipping off Kahili, Pupukuna Point, and Buin on Bougainville Island. In New Guinea, B-25s hit Wairopi bridge in the Owen Stanley Range, the village of Mubo, and the dock and occupied area on Pilelo Island; the Fifth AF completes the air movement of most of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, to Wanigela; and the 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby with P-38s.

Wednesday, 21 October, 1942

B-25s hit Luscan Harbor on the South coast of New Britain Island

Friday, 23 October, 1942

A-20s bomb and strafe Deniki and Deniki-Kokoda trail in New Guinea. B-17s thoroughly pound shipping at Rabaul on New Britain Island. HQ 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), which has been fighting since 8 December 1941, begins a movement from Mareeba, Australia to the US

Saturday, 24 October, 1942

In New Guinea, B-25s hit Lae Airfield; and organized Japanese resistance on Goodenough Island ceases.

Sunday, 25 October, 1942

13 B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island. In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe the Isurava-Kokoda trail, the W bank of the Kumusi River, and the area North of Asisi as Australian ground forces push toward Kokoda in the Owen Stanley Range; and HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby with B-25s. The 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), begins a movement from Mareeba, Australia to the US.

Monday, 26 October, 1942

In New Guinea, B-25s hit Salamaua and the airfield at Lae; A-20's, escorted by P-40s, bomb and strafe trails in the Missima-Kaile-Deniki area.

Tuesday, 27 October, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s hit trails in Southeast Papua around Alola, Isurava, and Abuari; P-39s escort Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Hudsons in strike against small craft at Ferguson Island in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands.

Wednesday, 28 October, 1942

B-17s pound shipping in the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain Island, while B-25s bomb the airfield on Gasmata Island off the South coast of New Britain Island.

Thursday, 29 October, 1942

A-20s hit the Isurava-Deniki and Abuari-Kaile trails, New Guinea; B-17s attack shipping in BougainvilleStrait between Buin, Bougainville Island and Faisi Island, Shortland Islands. The 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby with B-25s.

Friday, 30 October, 1942

B-17s bomb harbor and shipping at Buin, Bougainville Island.

Saturday, 31 October, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe Nauro and the area to N; B-25s strafe supply trucks Southeast of Gona. B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island, and in Buin, Bougainville-Faisi Island-Tonolai, Bougainville Island area.