January 6, 1942
(IJN) 9 Kawanishi H6K2 Mavis bomb Vunakanau
January 7, 1942
(IJN) 18 Japanese bombers attack Vunakanau.
January 16, 1942
(IJN) 17 Flying boats bomb Rabaul
January 20, 1942
Japanese raid on Rabaul area three Wirraways from Vunakanau (plus others from Lakunai) scrambled to intercept the raiders (unsuccessfully). Two of the Wirraways are still missing: Wirraway A20-179 : F/O J C Lowe & Sgt C A Ashford and Wirraway A20-319 : Sgt R A Blackman & Sgt S E Woodcroft.
Allied Missions Against Vunakanau
January 22, 1942 - June 16, 1944
January 22, 1942
(RAAF) Last RAAF aircraft, a Hudson takes off with wounded aboard before the
Japanese landings at Rabaul.
May 4, 1942
(5th AF) B-26's bomb Vunakanau.
May 25, 1942
(5th AF) B-17's bomb Vunakanau Airfield at Rabaul, New Britain
June 12, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb the building area and Vunakanau and Lakunai Airfields at Rabaul
June 19, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s pound shipping at Vunakanau Airfield
June 24, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s hit Vunakanau Airfield
August 7, 1942
(5th AF) 13 B-17s of the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), led by Lieutenant Colonel
Richard H. Carmichael hit Vunakanau Airfield. Lost is B-17E "Why Don't We Do This More Often" Serial Number 41-2429 (Medal of Honor)
October 13, 1942
B-17s attack Vunakanau
May 20, 1943
(5th AF) B-17's and
B-24's bomb Vunakanau Airfield
June 19, 1943
(5th AF) B-17's and B-24's thoroughly pound Vunakanau Airfield
September 11, 1943
Recon photograph taken from altitude
October 12, 1943
(5th AF) Almost 350 B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and RAAF airplanes pound the Rabaul area, including the first parafag bomb attack on Vunakanau Airfield.
October 24, 1943
(5th AF) At least 45 bombers
are destroyed on the ground at Vunakanau during
attacks by B-25's; the B-25's including 345th BG and 50+ escorting P-38's claim 40+ Japanese
airplanes shot down over Rabaul.
December 23, 1943
(5th AF) Bombers hit Vunakanau.
December 24, 1943
(5th AF) 18 B-24's bomb Vunakanau Airfield; Fighter cover for the strike fights a fierce air action
with interceptors
January 9, 1944
(13th AF) 2 squadrons of B-24's pound Vunakanau Airfield
January 10, 1944
(13th AF) Morning raid by 10 B-24's against
Vunakanau Airfield
January 12, 1944
(13th AF) 13
B-25's of the 42d BG, on their first mission against
the Rabaul area, bomb Vunakanau Airfield in the early morning
January 14, 1944
(13th AF) During
the night of 13/14 Jan, 15 B-24's bomb Vunakanau just before dawn.
January 18, 1944
(13th AF) A single B-24's on armed reconnaissance
bombs Vunakanau
January 19, 1944
(13th AF) During the night of 19/20 Jan B-24's, in 2 waves,
fly strikes against Vunakanau
January 20, 1944
(13th AF) B-25's, with escorting fighters,
pound the airfield, fuel dump and gun positions, at Vunakanau
January 30, 1944
(13th AF) 18 B-24's, supported by fighters, hit Vunakanau Airfield
February 4, 1944
(13th AF) 18 B-24s, covered
by 30+ P-38s and USN fighters, hit the airfield at Vunakanau
February 7, 1944
(13th AF) Vunakanau Airfield is bombed by 17 B-24s, escorted by P-38s and USN fighters.
February 9, 1944
(13th AF) P-40s
and USN fighters cover a USN dive-bomber attack on Vunakanau Airfield, scoring many hits on AA positions, buildings, and runways; 24 B-24s with USN
fighter escort follow with a strike on the same target hitting runways and
revetment area
February 10, 1944
(13th AF) P-40s
and USN fighters cover a USN dive-bomber attack on Vunakanau Airfield; B-25s
with fighter escort bomb Vunakanau later in the day
February 11, 1944
(13th AF) 22 B-25s, escorted by USN fighters, pound Vunakanau Airfield
February 12, 1944
(13th AF) 21 B-24s, escorted by P-39s and USN fighters, pound Vunakanau Airfield
February 13, 1944
(13th AF) P-40s and USN fighters escort USN SBDs and TBFs dive-bombing runway and AA positions at Vunakanau
February 14, 1944
(13th AF) 30
escorted B-25s pound Vunakanau Airfield
February 15, 1944
(13th AF) 23 B-25s, with fighter cover,
bomb the runway and dispersal area of Vunakanau Airfield
February 16, 1944
(13th AF) 12 B-24s, with 30+ P-38s
and USN F4Us, pound the runway at Vunakanau Airfield
February 18, 1944
(13th AF) 34 B-25s and 18 B-24s, both forces with fighter escorts, pound Vunakanau Airfield
February 23, 1944
(13th AF) 9 B-25s, with USN fighter support, bomb Vunakanau Airfield
March 16, 1944
(13th AF) 13 B-24s bomb Vunakanau Airfield, and 12 B-25s follow with a raid on Vunakanau radar installations
March 20, 1944
(13th AF) 23
B-24s bomb the airfield at Vunakanau
March 21, 1944
(13th AF) 22 B-24s bomb Vunakanau Airfield
March 24, 1944
(13th AF) A few B-25s
that lost contact with the formation bomb
Vunakanau as an alternate target
March 26, 1944
(13th AF) 23 B-25s
hit Vunakanau Airfield
April 7, 1944
(13th AF) 11
bomb Vunakanau Airfield
April 9, 1944
(RNZAF) F/Lt N H James (30 Squadron, RNZAF) leads 93 RNZAF and USMC aircraft comprising of TBF Avengers and SBD Dauntlesses against Vunakanau. 30 Squadron TBF Avenger NZ2512 and TBF Avenger NZ2518 are damaged by anti-aircraft fire.
April 12, 1944
(13th AF) 23 fighter-bombers
blast the concrete airstrip at Vunakanau
April 26, 1944
(RNZAF) 30 Squadron TBF Avenger NZ2507 is hit by anti-aircraft fire while over Vunakanau and
believed to have crashed into the sea east of Rabaul. F/O R D Gardner (Pilot), P/O C Nicholls (Navigator) and P/O P Shearer (Gunner) listed as MIA.
April 28, 1944
(13th AF) 30 fighter- bombers
hit the runway and revetments at Vunakanau
April 30, 1944
(13th AF) 30+ P-40s
and P-38s bomb Vunakanau Airfield
May 4, 1944
(13th AF) 43 fighter-bombers hit Vunakanau Airfield
May 11, 1944
(13th AF) 12 B-25s, 12 P-40s and 3 B-24s hit
Vunakanau Airfield
May 14, 1944
(13th AF) 44 fighter-bombers pound supply and personnel areas
at Vunakanau
May 16, 1944
(13th AF) 40+
fighter-bombers hit the Vunakanau area
May 17, 1944
(13th AF) 43 P-39s, P-40s and P-38s, in conjunction
with 40+ USN dive bombers, blast the Vunakanau area
May 21, 1944
(13th AF) 40+ USN dive bombers hit Vunakanau Airfield and nearby
plantation
May 28, 1944
(RNZAF) 31 Squadron make their first attack on Vunakanau. Lost is TBF Avenger NZ2530 listed as missing. Many other aircraft were damaged with several crew members being wounded.
May 29, 1944
(RNZAF) Lost on a bombing mission to Vunakanau is TBF Avenger NZ2530
June 2, 1944
(13th AF) P-39s, and P-40s attack the Vunakanau
area
June 16, 1944
(FEAF) B-24s hit Vunakanan Airfield
