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 Dawapia Rocks (The Beehives). Several near misses were also reported.
February 11, 1942
(RAAF) 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
(RAAF) Reconnaissance photograph was taken over Simpson Harbor and Rabaul showing Japanese ships. This photograph was used to plan the upcoming U.S. bombing mission planned for February 23, 1942.
February 19, 1942
(RAAF) PBYs bomb Rabaul.
February 22-23, 1942
(RAAF) During the night, PBYs bomb Rabaul.
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) Three flying boats: Catalina A24-2, Catalina A24-17 and Catalina A24-13 bomb Rabaul. Lost is Catalina A24-13 pilot Beaumont (MIA). One returned
damaged with an one engine out and salvoed bombs.
February 25, 1942
(RAAF) PBY Catalina piloted by Squadron Leader Choen dive bombs and releases twelve bombs from 1,300'
over Toboi wharf.
February 28, 1942
(RAAF) Rabaul bombed causing damage to two H6K flying boats and four fighters.
April 8, 1942
(USAAF) Four B-26s from the 22nd Bomb Group fly a bombing mission over Rabul targeting shipping in Simpson Harbor and Vunakanau Airfield. Over target, three A5M4 Claudes attempted to intercept, but were unable to catch the bombers.
April 18, 1942
(5th AF)
During a bombing mission by six B-26 against Rabaul, two B-26s attacked shipping in Simpson Harbor. B-26 "Shittenengitten" 40-1404 scored a single 500lbs bomb hit on Komaki Maru. The other B-26 40-1400 arrived late over the target and was intercepted by a pair of Tainan Kokutai A6M2 Zeros, damaged in the left engine and crashed near shore. Two crew bailed out and were taken prisoner.
May 12, 1942
(5th AF) B-17's and B-26's hit shipping in Simpson Harbor.
May 13, 1942
(5th AF) B-17's and B-26's hit shipping in Simpson Harbor.
July 17, 1943
(5th AF) B-17s bomb Simpson Harbor.
August 12, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb shipping Simpson Harbor claiming hits damaging three vessels.
September 15, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb Simpson Harbor.
October 28, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb shipping in Simpson Harbor.
December 25, 1942
(5th AF) Six B-17s, of the eleven dispatched, bomb Simpson Harbor
near Rabaul. Two aircraft score three hits on a large cargo ship,
while four bomb wharves and airfields. There are no US losses.
December 19, 1943
(13th AF) 16 B-24's, escorted by 50
AAF and RNZAF fighters, bomb Rabaul and Simpson Harbor.
January 22, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s bomb
Simpson Harbor shipping.
January 23, 1943
(5th AF) B-17s bomb
Simpson Harbor shipping.
February 3, 1943
(5th AF) B-17s and B-24s attack Simpson Harbor.
February 15, 1943
(5th AF) B-17s again bomb the town of Rabaul and hit the area
nearby west of Simpson Harbor.
November 11, 1943
(RAAF)
Beauforts join the attack on shipping in Simpson Harbor.
December 19, 1943
(13th AF, RNZAF) 16 B-24's, escorted by 50
AAF and RNZAF fighters, bomb the town of Rabaul and Simpson Harbor.
January 14, 1944
(13th AF, USN, USMC) 70+ Allied fighters support a strike by 50+ USN & USMC dive bombers
against shipping in Simpson Harbor; the fighters claim 27 aircraft
shot down. Lost are SBD-5 35971, F4U 17722, F4U 17807 and SBD 36230 (pilot MIA gunner POW, executed).
January 17, 1944
(13th AF, USN) AAF
and US fighters support 48 SBDs and 18 TBFs attacking shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul; they
claim 18 Japanese airplanes; Kanshin Maru is sunk. 10 Allied fighters are lost. Japanese Zeros from the 204th Kokutai at Lakunai Airfield and 16 Zeros from the 252nd Kokutai at Tobera Airfield intercept. Lost are eight P-38s from the 339th and 44th FS, who claim six victories and five probables. Lost are P-38J piloted by Munson (MIA), P-38J 42-67785 (MIA), P-38J 42-67179 (MIA), P-38J 42-67611 (MIA), P-38H 42-66680 (MIA), P-38H 42-66897 (MIA), P-38H 42-66897 (rescued), P-38J 42-67171 (MIA), F6F 26031 (MIA), SBD-5 28316 (MIA), TBF-1C 24363 (MIA). Damaged are TBF-1 24489 and SBD-5 35933.
January 24, 1944
A large concentration of
USAAF, USN, USMC, and RNZAF fighters support USN and USMC TBF's dive-bombing
shipping in Simpson Harbor.
February 17-18, 1944
(USN) During the night of February 17-18, Task Group 38.4, composed of the destroyers USS Farenholt (DD-491), USS Buchanan (DD-484), USS Lansdowne (DD-486), USS Lardner (DD-487) and USS Woodworth (DD-460) conducted a shore bombardment of targets on East New Britain near Rabaul known as the "Battle of Karavia Bay". They fired on batteries at Praed Point (141 rounds) and a gun battery at Raluana (56 rounds). Heavy gunfire was observed from Simpson Harbor and Karavia Bay areas.
March 3, 1944
(13th AF, USN) P-40s and
USN fighters cover a USN dive bomber strike on Rabaul and Simpson Harbor.
March 5, 1944
(13th AF, USN) 22 B-25s,
with USN fighter escort, bomb Simpson Harbor.
March 9, 1944
(13th AF) 24 B-25s
bomb the dock area along the noeth shore of Simpson Harbor at Rabaul. Also, 40+ P-39s and
P-40s hit the dock area east of Simpson Harbor.
March 12, 1944
(13th AF, USN) 22 B-25s,
with USN fighter cover, pound the Rabaul area,
concentrating on the north rim of Simpson Harbor.
March 14, 1944
(13th AF, USN) 23 B-24s, with USN fighter cover, bomb the
northern waterfront area of Simpson Harbor.
March 16, 1944
(13th AF) 11 B-25s pound the northern edge of Simpson Harbor.
April 1, 1944
(13th AF) 28 P-39s and
P-40s hit the Toboi wharf area at Simpson Harbor.
April 6, 1944
(13th AF) 30+ fighter-bombers bomb the vicinity of Toboi wharf with incendiaries.
May 12, 1944
(13th AF, USN) 12 P-39s and about 70 USN SBDs and TBFs sink numerous barges throughout the
Rabaul area, including Simpson Harbor.
References
USAAF Combat Chronology 1942–1945
Hostages To Freedom (1995) pages 479-480
