Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
American missions against Vila and Vila Airfield
January 23, 1943–October 2, 1943

January 23, 1943
(USN) In the early morning, Task Force 67.2 (TF-62.2) under the command of Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth including USS Helena (CL-50), USS Nashville and four destroyers entered Kula Gulf and fired 3,500 shells while a PBY Catalina provided aerial spotting support. The force withdrew into rain storms chased by Japanese floatplanes and bombers, firing radar directed 5" gunfire at the attackers.

January 28, 1943
(13th AF) Five B-26s and 12 P-39s attack Vila Airfield.

January 29, 1943
(13th AF) B-26s and P-39s hit a bivouac area at Vila.

January 31, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s bomb the ammunition dump at Vila and Vila Airfield. Allied fighters perform a sweep over Vila.

February 9. 1943
(13th AF) B-26s, escorted by P-38s and P-39s, pound Vila Airfield.

February 11, 1943
(13th AF) B-26s, P-38s and P-39s bomb Vila Airfield.

February 15, 1943
(13th AF) B-26s, P-39s and P-40s attack Vila Airfield on Kolombangara.

February 20, 1943
(13th AF) B-24s pound Vila on Kolombangara.

February 25/26, 1943
(13th AF) P-38s and Navy aircraft hit Vila on Kolombangara during the night.

February 28, 1943
(13th AF) P-38s and Navy aircraft attack Vila Airfield on Kolombangara.

March 7, 1943
(13th AF) Single B-24s hit Vila Airfield.

March 8, 1943
(13th AF) Vila is hit by light B-24 raids.

May 11-12, 1943
(13th AF) USS Nashville CL-43 bombards Vila Airfield.  In the forward turret, an explosion of power charges kills 18 and wounds 17.

March 13, 1943
(13th AF) Vila Airfield attacked by B-24s in light raids.

March 15, 1943
(13th AF) Single B-17s hit Vila Airfield.

March 16, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s and B-24s on harassing raids bomb Vila.

March 17, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s continue harassing raids against Vila.

March 27, 1943
(13th AF) P-39's join Navy aircraft in an attack on Vila Airfield.

March 30, 1943
(13th AF) Heavy bombers continue snooper strikes on Vila.

April 27, 1943
(USMC) SBD Dauntless dive bombers escorted by F4U Corsairs from Marine Fighting Squadron 213 (VMF-213) attempt to bomb Vila Airfield but thick clouds pervented them from finding the target.

April 27, 1943
(13th AF) B-24's pound Vila.

May 3, 1943
(13th AF) B-17's fly snooper strikes during the night of 3/4 May against Vila Airfield.

May 8, 1943
(13th AF) P-40's and P-38's hit AA positions at Vila.

June 9, 1943
(13th AF) B-17's, P-40's, and P-38's' pound the airfields at Vila.

June 14, 1943
(13th AF) 18 B-25's, escorted by F4U's, hit Vila Airfield.

June 20, 1943
(13th AF) P-40's join Marine and Navy airplanes in a strike against Vila Airfield. Hits are scored on the runway and dump area.
(USMC) Eighteen SBDs from VMSB-144 took off on a dive bombing and strafing mission each armed with a 1,000 pound bomb against anti-aircraft gun positions at Vila Airfield with 18 TBF Avengers escorted by 12 F4F Wildcats and 14 P-40 Warhawks. Over the target, considerable anti-aircraft fire was experienced. Returning, SBD pilot Lt. Carr landed in the Russell Islands but then returned to Henderson Field. Three SBDs returned with minor damage.

June 25, 1943
(13th AF) B-25's, escorted by P-40's, hit the runway at Vila Airfield.

July 7, 1943
(13th AF) B-25's and P-38's attack Vila Airfield.

July 12, 1943
(13th AF) 10 B-25's attack Vila Airfield, which is hit later in the day by B-24's on armed reconnaissance..

July 31, 1943
(13th AF) B-17's, B-25's, P-40's, and US Navy aircraft attack the airfield at Vila.

August 8, 1943
(13th AF) 23 B-25's, with P-38's, P-39's, and US Navy F4U's as cover, bomb Vila.

August 9, 1943
(13th AF) 10 B-25's, with fighter cover, bomb Vila. Shortly thereafter 22 B-24's strike the same target.

August 13, 1943
(13th AF) 2 B-17s others on armored reconnaissance bomb Vila.

August 16, 1943
(13th AF) 12 B-25's, 5 B-17's, and 30+ US Navy planes attack Vila Airfield.

August 31, 1943
(13th AF) 22 B-25's and 50 US Navy airplanes bomb gun positions and the radio station at Vila.

September 2, 1943
(13th AF) 24 B-25's and 60+ US Navy aircraft pound Vila, hitting AA and artillery positions.

September 3, 1943
(13th AF) Vila Airfield is bombed by 5 B-24's and 10 USN aircraft.

September 6, 1943
(13th AF) B-24's blast gun positions at Vila.

September 9, 1943
(13th AF) 12 B-25's and 50+ USN dive bombers pound Vila Airfield.

September 11, 1943
(13th AF) 18 B-25's pound the area west of Vila Airfield.

September 14, 1943
(13th AF) 3 B-25's bomb Vila Airfield and 2 B-24's and 6 Venturas attack the Vila area.

September 15, 1943
(13th AF) B-25's bomb Vila airfield.

September 19, 1943
(13th AF) B-25's and USN dive bombers, covered by fighters, bomb Vila Airfield.

September 23, 1943
(13th AF) 21 B-24's bomb area from Stanmore Plantation to the mouth of the Vila River.

September 25, 1943
(13th AF) B-25's join USN TBF's and SBD's in pounding gun positions in the areas around Vila Airfield.

October 1, 1943
24 B-24's bomb a supply and bivouac area N of Vila airfield.

October 2, 1943
6 B-25's join USN dive bombers in attacking Hamberi Cove barge hideout near Vila.



  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram