American Missions Against Arawe

November 5, 1942
(5th AF) B-25s unsuccessfully attack a schooner near Arawe, New Britain.

November 22, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s and B-25s hit warships 68 miles SW of Arawe

December 22, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s hit a ship in the harbor at Arawe

December 23, 1942
(5th AF) B-24s attack a cargo ship at Arawe

December 24, 1942
(5th AF) Single B-24 bombs the harbor of Arawe.

February 4, 1943
(5th AF) Heavy bomber scores hits on vessel off Arawe

March 19, 1943
(5th AF) Single B-17's strike Arawe

December 14, 1943
(5th AF) 228 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's bomb Arawe in an almost continuous attack from 0645 to 1548 hours.

April 10, 1943
(5th AF) Single B-17 bombs the airfield at Arawe

May 18, 1943
(5th AF) Single heavy bomber hits Arawe

July 20, 1943
(5th AF) Single B-24 bombs Arawe

December 15, 1943
(USN) Arawe Landing Force of TF 76 commanded by USN Admiral Barbey Sailed from Goodenough Island on December 13th nad landed at Arawe on 14th): 1 regiment, 2 cruisers, 13 destroyers, 2 high speed transports, 1 landing ship, 1 transport, landing 1600 soldiers of the US Army's 112th Cavalry.

(5th AF) In support of US Army landing, B-25s pound villages in Arawe.

(IJN) Japanese D3A2 Vals from 582nd and 552nd Kokutai from Rabaul, escorted by 40+ Zeros made several raids against Arawe beachead. Mission #1 of 7 s over six days, with 40 killed in action among the Vals, attempting to strike the shipping and shore positions.

December 17, 1943
(5th AF) P-47's intercept 35-40 aircraft attacking Allied forces on the Arawe peninsula; at least 10 airplanes are claimed shot down.

(IJN) Japanese D3A2 Vals from 582nd and 552nd Kokutai from Rabaul, escorted by 40+ Zeros made several raids against Arawe beachead. Mission #2 of 7 s over six days, with 40 killed in action among the Vals, attempting to strike the shipping and shore positions. They report the American forces as APC 21, YMS 50, SC743 and 4 LSTs.

December 19, 1943
(5th AF) 20 A-20's pound forces NE of Arawe

December 20, 1943
(5th AF) A-20's hit the Arawe and P-38's claim 10 enemy along S coast

December 21, 1943
(5th AF) P-47's claim 17 fighters shot down in the Arawe area.

(IJN) Japanese D3A2 Vals from 582nd and 552nd Kokutai from Rabaul, escorted by 40+ Zeros made several raids against Arawe beachead. Mission #3 & 4 of 7 s over six days, with 40 killed in action among the Vals, attempting to strike the shipping and shore positions.

December 24, 1943
(5th AF) Japanese forces in Arawe area are hit by A-20's

December 25, 1943
(5th AF) A-20's attack Japanese forces in the Arawe area where Allied outposts and observation posts are being pushed back by fierce enemy assaults on the beachhead.

December 27, 1943
(IJN) Japanese D3A2 Vals from 582nd and 552nd Kokutai from Rabaul, escorted by 40+ Zeros made several raids against Arawe beachead. Mission #6 of 7 s over six days, with 40 killed in action among the Vals, attempting to strike the shipping and shore positions.

December 31, 1943
(5th AF) P-47's intercept a small force of airplanes attacking the Arawe beachhead area and 12 aircraft are claimed shot down.

(IJN) Japanese D3A2 Vals from 582nd and 552nd Kokutai from Rabaul, escorted by 40+ Zeros made several raids against Arawe beachead. Mission #7 of 7 s over six days, with 40 killed in action among the Vals, attempting to strike the shipping and shore positions.

January 7, 1944
(5th AF) A-20's hit forces near Arawe

January 8, 1944
(5th AF) A-20's hit positions near Arawe

January 16, 1944
(5th AF) B-24's and B-25's attack positions near Arawe.