August 5, 1942
(USN) aircraft destroyed a concentration of
seaplanes at Rekata Bay.
August 8, 1942
(USN) A scouting force of twelve SBDs led by LtCdr E. M. Snowden from USS Wasp (CV-7) flew a search of 250 miles reaching Santa Isabel Island and New Georgia. At 8:15am Snowden claimed a Rufe shot down using his nose machine guns roughly 46 miles off Rekata Bay.
December 18, 1942
(RNZAF) Lost on a patrol mission is Hudson NZ2054 (MIA / POW).
September 15, 1942
Aerial reconassance photo of Rekata Bay and Suavanao Point.
October 30, 1942
(USMC) Fighters of VMF-212 shot down "float planes" at Rekata Bay, claiming 5 victories at 0515:
1/Lt Jack Conger: 2, 1/Lt Frank Drury: 1, 1/Lt Robert Sout: 1, 1/Lt. William Watkins Jr; : 1
January 1, 1943
(13th AF) B-26s of the 69th BS bomb from 7,000', damaging the Sanyo Maru with a near miss. Nine F1M2 Pete intercept, but fail to make contact.
January 7, 1943
(13th AF) B-26s of the 69th BS with P-39 escort attack Rekata
Bay, two planes are lost. B-26 "Krejan" 41-17550 is shot down by anti-aircraft fire over the target.
January 13, 1943
(13th AF) B-26s with P-39 and P-38 escort pound
the Rekata
Bay, no loss.
January 22, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s bomb the Rekata Bay without loss.
January 25, 1943
(13th AF) P-38s bomb Rekata Bay area.
February 22, 1943
(USN, 13th AF) P-38s, P-39s and Navy aircraft hit Rekata Bay
area.
March 22, 1943
(13th AF) P-38s strafe Rekata Bay area.
March 31, 1943
(13th AF) P-40's and P-38's hit the Suavanau Point
area of Rekata Bay.
April 11, 1943
(USN, 13th AF) P-38's and Navy fighters strafe gun positions in the
Rekata Bay.
May 2, 1943
(13th AF)
B-17's on harassing strikes hit the Rekata Bay area.
May 3, 1943
(USN, 13th AF) 58 Allied planes including 12 TBF Avengers, 12 SBD Dauntless Dive Bombers and 12 F4U Corsairs escorted by 8 F4F Wildcats, 6 P-38 Lightnings and 8 P-40 Warhawks strike Rekata Bay. The Navy bombers drop 12 x 2,000 pound bombs and 12 x 1,000 pound bombs on Rekata Bay claiming hits on buildings, AA position sand starting one fire.
References
NARA CINCPAC War Diary May 1943 page 1 (64)
(Page 1) May 3, 1943 1. Contacts and Actions with the enemy in the Pacific Ocean Areas.
"(ComAirSols) 2110-2130Z/2 - 12 TBF, 12 SBDs and 12 F4Us escorted by 8 F4Fs, 6 P-38s and 8 P-40s dropped 12-2000# and 12 1000# bombs on Rekata Bay. Buildings and AA positions hit and one fire started."
NARA Admiralty War Diaries May 1943 page 689
"58 Allied aircraft attacked Rekata Bay Isabel Island a.m. 3rd May..."
May 4, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s fly snooper strikes against Rekata Bay area.
June 26, 1943
(13th AF) P-38s strafe the area.
July 23, 1943
(13th AF) B-25's and P-40's, and USN SBDs, pound the Rekata
Bay area.
August 5, 1943
(13th AF) B-24's bomb the
shore of Rekata Bay.
August 6, 1943
(USN, USMC, 13th AF) 24 B-17's & B-24's, 24 B-25's, and 50+
USN and USMC fighters and dive bombers pound the Rekata Bay area, bivouac
and supply
areas.
August 11, 1943
(13th AF)
Five B-24's hit a supply area on the east side of Suavanau Point and Papatura Fa.
August 13, 1943
(13th AF) 12 B-25's bomb supply areas
at Rekata
Bay. Two B-24's on armed reconnaissance hit Suavanau Point.
August 14, 1943
(13th AF) 9 B-17's bomb the Rekata Bay area.
August 15, 1943
(13th AF) B-25's bomb Papatura Fa.
August 16, 1943
(13th AF) NIne B-24's bomb Papatura Fa
near Rekata Bay.
August 24, 1943
(13th AF) Twenty-five B-24's with fighter escort, bomb Papatura Fa.
August 26, 1943
(13th AF) Fifteen B-24's bomb Papatura Ite and supply areas on Papatura
Fa.
August 30, 1943
(USN)
F6F Hellcats from VF-33 conduct a dog search over Rekata Bay.
Reference: History of Fighting Squadron 33 page 1
"The first authorized mission took place the morning of 31 August 1943, consisting of a dog search off Rakata Bay, northern shore of Santa Isabel, Solomons - the first authorized land based mission in which a F6F-3 took part."
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