PARTIAL LIST
February 6, 1943
A large Japanese air raid of 29 Ki-43 Oscars of the 11th Sentai and 9 Ki-48 Lilys of the 45th Sentai took off from Lae to attack Wau Airfield. The fighters were incorrectly identified by the Allies as 'Zeros'
During the raid, three C-47s arrived in the area and were about to land. Shot down by Ki-43 Oscars was C-47 "Early
Delivery" 41-38658. The other two C-47s managed to evade the fighters and returned to Port Moresby. Escorted by eight P-39 Airacobras of the 35th FG, 40th FS and eight P-40Es of the 49th FG, 7th FS. One P-40E was damaged by a dozen machine gun hits.
On the ground, Wirraway A20-504 was destroyed
on the ground and one stick of bombs fell along the strip, three were killed
in the Air Cooperation Signals hut which received a direct hit. But the score
was more than evened in the air where the fight waxed furious over the township
itself and then swung off down the Bulolo Valley and out over the mountains.
Japanese claimed ten Allied aircraft shot down (2 claimed by WO Haruo Takagaki). Americans claimed 25 Japanese planes shot down (12 claimed by 40th FS and 7 by the 7th FS). In fact, Japanese losses were two Ki-43 Oscars shot down by fighters, and two by the 156th Light Anti-aircraft battery. Lost were: Major Katsuji Suguira (C.O.), Captain Shigenori Miyabashi, Tomechi Takaga and Ki-43 piloted by Sato.
Three bombers were lost, one claimed by the 156th Light Anti-aircraft battery.
June 13, 1943
Japanese bombers hit Wau and Port
Moresby.
References
The Battle for Wau page 212-213
Ki-43 'Oscar' Aces of World War 2 page 75-76
