First Parafrag Bomb Attack on Vunakanau Airfield
October 12, 1943 by B-25D Mitchells from 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG)

Background
On October 12, 1943 Allied aircraft begin a major air offensive against Rabaul with almost 350 B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and RAAF airplanes pound the town, harbor, and airfields in the area, including B-25D Mitchells from 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) that conducts the first parafag bomb attack on Vunakanau Airfield over revetment areas with parked planes including G4M1 Bettys from 702 Kokutai (702 Air Group).

Released at low level, each parafrag bomb was a 23 pound fragmentation bomb with a parachute that deployed when released to retarded the weapon as it floated to the ground. When the plunger tip detonator at the nose of the bomb touched the ground it detonated. Although the bomb's blast radius was small, shrapnel caused damage to parked planes or was deadly to any nearby personnel. Any bombs that landed in trees or any obstruction would leave the bomb suspended above the ground and would detonate if triggered or when an attempt was made to remove them as unexploded ordnance (UXO). These small bombs became an effective weapon against parked planes and installations in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

At Vunakanau Airfield parked G4M1 Bettys from 751 Kōkūtai (751 Air Group) and 702 Kōkūtai (702 Air Group) are bombed and strafed at low level. Nine are destroyed and three are damaged beyond repair with others suffering lesser damage.

Yoji Sakaida adds:
"My friend remembered this attack. He avoided a parachute and the runway. Also the people thought with attack of paratroopers. They hesitated about approaching the base. Also there was the youth who was going to catch a bomb. It exploded and he died. After the bombing, many unexploded bombs hung from a trees and were a problem."

References
Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 51-59 (Surprise at Rabaul: October 12, 1943) , 52 (map October-December 1943)
Thanks to Yoji Sakaida for additional information