February 3, 1942
RAAF: Five Catalinas attack shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Newly arrived A5M4 Claudes of the Chitose Kokutai fly
continuous combat air patrols over Rabaul and intecept the flying boats (operating in tandem with the searchlight crews). Damaged are Catalina A24-3 and Catalina A24-5. Cruisers and transports were observed and attacked with a possible direct hit on one large vessel NW of Beehives. Several near misses were also reported.
February 11, 1942
At 14:30 four Hudsons attack the Kinryu Maru and Kozui Maru, recieve hits
and the loss of several crew members and damage to engine sectionss. Four
A5M4 Claudes of (Chitose Kokutai redesignated) 4th Kokutai attack the
bombers.
February 14, 1942
Aerial
Reconnassance photo taken
February 19, 1942
(RAAF) PBYs bomb Rabaul
February 22/23, 1942
(RAAF) PBYs bomb Rabaul at night.
February 23, 1942
(USAAF) First American bombing mission against Rabaul. A group of 9 B-17s are
scheduled to strike shipping in Rabaul's harbor. Operating out of Townsville,
Australia the force suffers mechanical trouble and runs into bad weather. Only
two B-17s manages to bomb the target, and all are intercepted by 4th Kokutai
fghters. B-17E
41-2446 (aka 'The Swamp Ghost') runs out of fuel and force lands in a swamp
off northern New Guinea.
February 24, 1942
RAAF PBYs bomb Rabaul, one failed to return. One returned
damaged, one engine out dumped bombs.
February 25, 1942
Squadron Leader Choen used his PBY to dive-bomb and release 12 bombs from 1,300'
over Toboi wharf.
February 28, 1942
Rabaul hit from air, with damage to 2 H6K flying boats and 4 fighters.
(MORE COMING SOON)
References
USAAF Combat Chronology 1942 - 1945
Hostages To Freedom (page 479-480)
