RNZAF activity in the Pacific 1945

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 11 January 1945.

Caught with their pants down! Japs in canoes and whale boats enroute toward Matupi were pumped full of lead by vengeful Corsairs. At least sixty Nips were killed, and eight large canoes were sunk.
Sixteen Piva fighters reported good results in seven-ton strike at regimental headquarters near Mosigetta (east of Gazelle Harbor). 21 out of 24 hits on target.

NEW BRITAIN
(25 sorties - no bombs)

Sixty Japs Killed and Eight Canoes Sunk: Keravia Bay in the seametery for five dozen Nips and eight of their water craft caught in transit to Matupi by alert Corsairs on Rabaul patrol. Three whale boats were strafed in the same action.

Trucks Fired at Toboi and Vunakanau: Other patrols accounted for two large trucks which were strafed and fired south of Toboi wharf and one more truck burnt at Diddman's Corner (northwest of Vunakanau). Considerable truck activity was noted around the Toboi wharf area. A suspected barge repair point was noted one mile southeast of nearby Walaur. Meagre inaccurate light A/A came from a known position on the northwest side of Koravia Bay.

For the Record:

20 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul patrol 0640-1715 No bombs.

Negative patrols: The dusk patrol Tuesday and ship count yesterday were both negative.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul patrol Jan 9. 1715-1835 No bombs.
1 PV NZ 1 Rabaul Ship Count Jan 10. No bombs.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(42 sorties - 14 1/4 tons)

Dusk Patrol Uneventful: Two Corsairs flew the customary sunset sweep Tuesday with negative results.

For the Record:

2 F4Us ---- Dusk Patrol. No bombs.

Nip Camp at Kieta Struck: Twelve fighters led by tactical reconnaissance hit a Jap personnel area at Kieta early yesterday with six tons. Owing to a break down in communications, only one bomb fell in the target area.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ 21 Kieta 0750 dr. 12x1000

Mosigetta Regimental Headquarters Pinpointed: Late reports state that excellent results were achieved in the smash by 16 Corsairs on a command post at Mosigetta (about 5 miles in from Gazelle Harbor). Led by tactical recco, all but three of the 24 eggs were hatched on the headquarters.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ 24 Mosigetta 1115 dr. 8x325 D.C. (1 dud)
                                                 8x500 G.P.
8 F4Us NZ 21 Mosigetta 1115 dr. 8x1000 G.P.

Buka Bombing Blasts Buildings: Two fighters hit huts at Hanahan Bay with four quarter-tonners and crumpled four huts with one direct hit. One bomb overshot, one skipped into the sea, and one was a dud.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 24 Hanahan Bay 1410 dr. 4x500 G.P. (1 dud)

Patrols Strafe Nips and Note Activity: Ten Corsairs, patrolling in pairs during the day strafed breakfast fires, smoked a hut at Lontis, probably killed a Nip, and reported the following:

Well kept gardens at Harapa and Koromira Mission. New huts in excellent condition on NE coast of Buka. Coast road in NE Bougainville shows frequent use and wheeled traffic.
One mine north of Onua Island.
Barge mark between Mibo and Mobiai Rivers.
Fresh tracks and freshly cut timber at Kaukauai. Possible barge hideout.
Thirty-foot pole in old garden 2 miles south of Poritana.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 24 Dawn Patrol No bombs.
8 F4Us NZ 24 Bougainville patrols 1550-1630 No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(24 sorties - 23 3/4 tons )

Kavieng Patrols Pick Five Targets: Two Corsairs, and later three more, dropped half-tonners on Lamernewi buildings. Roger Young Plantation buildings, the North Cape personnel area, Kavieng huts and Kavieng revetments. Results were not observed. Strafing fired a Fatmilak hut.

For the Record:

5 F4Us NZ 19 Kavieng Patrol 1200-1800 dr. 5x1000 G.P.

Kafkaf Catches Quarter-tonners: The dusk Ventura low-leveled huts near Fatmilak with six quarter-tonners. Results not seen. And the dawn PV did the same to huts at Nemasalang (near Medina), also strafing Kimidan-Katendan.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Dusk patrol Jan 9. dr. 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ 4 Dawn patrol Jan 10. dr. 6x500 G.P.

Truck Recco Hits Medina: Another Emirau Ventura placed four quarter-tonners in Medina Village, a single at Libba Bridge (both unobserved), and brought back one hang-up.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Truck Recco 1058-1253 dr. 5x500 G.P.

Ray Plantation Gets 4 1/2 Tons: Three Venturas dropped 18 quarter-tonners on this plantation near Roger Young on the NW coast of New Ireland. Damage was not assessed.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 4 Ray Plantation 1115 dr. 18x500 G.P.

Five Huts Wrecked, Two Damaged: Four Corsairs carrying half-tonners dive bombed huts southeast of Panapai, wrecking five. Kavieng Town was also strafed and two huts and a truck were damaged.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ 19 Kavieng patrols 0900-1500 dr. 4x1000. G.P.

Green Venturas Destroy Stores: Four PVs bombed and strafed the Ratabu area (on the SW shore, opposite Namatanai), destroying stores with two dozen quarter-tonners.

For the Record:

4 PVs NZ 1 Ratabu 1000 dr. 24x500 G.P.

Eighteen Quarter-Tonners Orphaned: Three Venturas attacked and strafed (with good coverage) area not decipherable from the dispatch.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 1 Bo--- 1000 dr. 18x500 G.P.

Suspected Mine Sunk by Corsairs: Two F4Us strafed and sunk a likely mine in the vicinity of Feni Island.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-Green Feni Island 1330 No bombs.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 9

Beefsteak searches negative. Tare full track and cover. Uncle 80/75. Victor 70/70. A front lies northeast of a line 003° N-150° E to 001° N-153° E.
Brewer searches not reported.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.

[davidd]

Just an observation, but it seems to me that the American armed forces may have ignored the International date line, in the interests of simplification of record keeping, so that all operations in the Pacific Ocean area were considered to have occurred on the same day regardless of the time zone. I have noticed that RNZAF accounts of operations usually differ from American equivalents by one day. First noticed this in the South Pacific Strike Command diaries, which included RNZAF squadrons for 1943 and 1944, which I have compared to relevant RNZAF squadron daily summaries. As NZ is located East of Greenwich, as are the Solomon Islands/Bismarcks, PNG, etc, we must have maintained the situation of always operating (on paper at least) one day AHEAD of the American forces, which I would have thought would have been a recipe for endless confusion. Does anybody else have anything to contribute on this apparently puzzling situation? Perhaps I am missing something here! I also considered possibility that the American summaries were completed the day following actual operations, but you would think that this would have been made very clear in the introductions. Actually I have just noticed that this is the case! Note that the heading states: "Day ending 0800 11 January 1945"! Certainly not the Empire's way of keeping diaries! Regardless of that, I am still enjoying the original crisp American style and pithy comments.

I am also experiencing a few difficulties in matching up some of the entries relating to the NZ Ventura operations. This seems to be a result of the original compiler of these summaries not always including the bases of the participating squadrons, and sometimes even omitting squadron identification altogether. The only NZ Ventura squadron operating from Emirau in January 1945 was No. 4, from 20th November 1944 through to 8th February 1945.

The NZ PV-1 Squadrons flying operations from Green Island during this period (January 1945) were No. 1., from 11th November 1944 till 4th January 1945, then No. 2 Squadron, 4th January till 14th March 1945. The "Beefsteak" searches mentioned in the above accounts as flown from Emirau were normally recorded by RNZAF as "TUV" searches, these being the letters identifying the adjacent Sectors they were responsible for.

David D

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 12 January 1945.

"Crater love hath no man..." And it's a cinch the Japs weren't pleased when a pair of quarter-tonners fell on their Tunnel Hill highway into Rabaul. Six huts were destroyed and two smoked by a busy quartet of Corsairs over Buka yesterday. Still more huts were strafed.
F/O Stephenson had good luck in getting home after hydraulic trouble forced him to splash his plane.

NEW BRITAIN
(42 sorties - 10 1/2 tons)

News of Negatives: The Wednesday dusk patrol and yesterday's ship count saw no Nips.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrol Jan. 10 1715-1835 No bombs.
1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count Jan. 11 No bombs.

Heckler Splits Load Five Ways: The Ventura sent to annoy Rabaul during Wed. night reported dropping its load of six 325-pound depth charges on Keravia, Vunakanau, Rapopo, Matupi and Rabaul Town.
Results not observed. Many lights were noted in the area. Meagre inaccurate heavy A/A came up from Vunakanau, and two bursts of inaccurate heavy fire from Rapopo.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Heckler 2205-0015 dr 6x325 D.C.

Outrigger Canoe Sunk: A dozen Corsairs bombed targets with 22 quarter-tonners and a pair of half-tonners and caught meagre inaccurate automatic weapons fire from a known position west of Raluana Point. A large outrigger canoe was strafed and sunk between Credner Island and Praed Point.

For the Record:

12 F4Us Raluana Point area dr 22x500 GP
                                              2x1000 GP.

Tunnel Hill Road Cratered and Blocked: Twenty-four Corsairs patrolled the Rabaul area yesterday. One good hit was recorded when two quarter-tonners holed and blocked the Tunnel Hill Road into town.
Two more quarter-tonners were dropped on buildings near the N.D.L. Pier in Simpson Harbor but results were not observed. Also a truck was strafed and damaged on Tunnel Hill Road.
One plane was holed by meagre light A/A from a known position south of Tunnel Hill Road.

F/O Stephenson Bails Out: Hydraulic trouble forced Flying Officer L. Stephenson of NZ-16 to jump near Green yesterday. A crash boat brought him in safely.

For the Record:

24 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 0700-1800 dr 12x500 GP.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(42 sorties - 13 3/4 tons)

Piva Fighters Hit Mawaraka Area: Eight Corsairs drooped eight half-tonners all within 200 yards of a target smoke bomb placed by tactical recco over a Nip troop position.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-21 Mawaraka 0745 dr 8x1000 GP.

Repeat Attack on Mawaraka: Half an hour later this same target was again plastered by a dozen F4Us carrying 22 325-pound depth charges and two quarter-tonners. Except for three duds and two misses, all were on the target.
NOTE: Jap shells were seen to burst north and south of the Adele River mouth about 0800. (see Ground Situation).

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-24 Mawaraka 0815 dr 22x325 D.C. (3 duds)
                                                    2x500 G.P.

Eight Huts Hit at Buka: Four fighters went for huts in the Hanahan Bay area with quarter tonners and depth charges.
They demolished two huts at the foot of a cliff at Tandeki on the northwest shore of Buka with four 500-pounders, crumpled four more huts south of nearby Lontis with a quarter-tonner and two 325-pound depth charges, and smoked an additional two huts west of Cape Hanpan. Other huts from Cape Hanpan to Lemankoa were strafed.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-24 Buka Island 1210 dr 6x500 G.P.
                                                  2x325 D.C. (1 dud).

Four Tons on Doure: Huts under trees at this point on the central east coast of Bougainville were bombed by eight Corsairs led by tactical reconnaissance.
Of the fourteen quarter-tonners and two 325-pound depth charges, six were on the target area, five overshot, three undershot, one was a dud and one was an aerial burst.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-24 Doure 1400 dr 14x500 G.P.
                                            2x325 D.C. (1 dud)

Patrols Strafe New Huts: Eight Piva Corsairs, flying in pairs, strafed about thirty newly-constructed huts one mile northwest of Kalia (E. Fauro Island).
Much track activity was noted in the area. A Jetty in the bay on the west coast of Fauro opposite Bauvo Island has been repaired within the last week.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-21 Bougainville Patrol 1000-1245 No bombs.

Dawn Patrol Notes Suspicious Tracks: Two Corsairs flying early morning watch reported a shell landing in the water close to a possible barge at 0630 about 600 yards off Tavera River.
Tracks were noted south of each river between Puriata and Moila Points. Apparent attempts to conceal some of these tracks were noted. Off Ako, on the southwest coast, the patrol saw a track that might have been made by a barge down upon the beach.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Dawn Patrol No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(16 sorties -17 1/4 tons)

Ulunono Bridge Bombed: Two fighters over Kavieng dropped a half-tonner near a bridge at Ulunono Plantation. One bomb hung and was returned. While strafing a truck southwest of Panapai Airdrome, these planes received meagre, inaccurate, heavy A/A from east of the same strip.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-19 Panapai 1500-1805 dr 1x1000 G.P.

Dusk Ventura Draws Mortar Fire: Flying 100/100 track and cover, six quarter-tonners were dropped on a hut area at Lauan Bay on the east coast of northern New Ireland by our PV.
Results unobserved. He got one burst of inaccurate mortar fire at Medina.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Patrol dr 6x500 G.P.

Three Tons on Roland Young and Koka: The dawn sweep put six unobserved 500-pounders on the Roland Young Plantation. The Ventura truck recco put the same load on huts and a bridge on Koka, south on the same coast. No results reported.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Patrol dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Truck Recco dr 6x500 G.P.

Patrols Bomb Balus and Kavieng Town: Two Corsairs put half-tonners near the bridge at Balus. The next pair of fighters on patrol gave the same dose to the Kavieng Town area.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-19 Balus 0830-1230 2x1000 G.P.
2 F4Us NZ-19 Kavieng 1230-1453 2x1000 G.P.

Seven Venturas from Green Hit Borpop: In a low-level attack, seven PV from NZ-2 cut their teeth on the Borpop personnel area by strafing and bombing with 41 quarter-tonners.
One bomb hung and was returned. Results were not observed but there was 75% coverage of the target area. Meagre, inaccurate, light A/A came from a known position west of Cape Namaroda.

For the Record:

7 PVs NZ-2 Borpop 0910 dr 41x500 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 11

Beefsteak searches report no enemy in T-U-V sectors. Track and cover was as follows: 100/100 for Tare, 95/90 for Uncle, and 95/100 for Victor. Low scattered cumulus throughout.
Brewer reports no Nips in Able-Baker sectors. Track was 100, cover 95 percent.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 13 January 1945.

Piva Corsairs hit the jackpot when one shack bombed at Lontis blows sky-high and sends up billowing black smoke. Quite probably an ammo dump.
Patrols from Green sank a barge and a whale boat off Raluana Point at the entrance to Keravia Bay. No Nips were reported killed or wounded. Piva, Green and Emirau together accounted for thirteen huts destroyed and at least nine more damaged---a raise over any previous day's razing this month.
A Val was seen east of Cape Lambert during the afternoon. Chased by Corsairs, he escaped to the west by dropping a belly tank and outrunning the fighters to cloud cover.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(40 sorties-13 1/4 tons)

Troop Concentrations Bombed: In support of the ground campaign, a Nip troop center was again hit yesterday. The target was Nigitan (northeast of Mawaraka on the west-central coast).
Eleven Corsairs, led by tactical recco placed all eleven of their half-tonners in the area indicated.

For the Record:

11 F4Us NZ-21 Nigitan 0720 dr 11x1000 G.P.

Mawaraka Also Hit: Twelve more Piva fighters led by T/R pasted the Jap troop concentration at Mawaraka which caught eight tons yesterday. Six 325-pound depth charges were on the target; two overshot. Seven half-tonners hit the troop area; one hung and dropped.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-24 Mawaraka 1130 dr 7x325 D.C.
                                                1x500 G.P.
6 F4Us NZ-21 Mawaraka 1130 dr 8x1000 G.P.

Lontis Huts Destroyed; Probable Ammo Dump Hit: Four Corsairs hit huts in the Lontis area (NW coast of Buka) with devastating success.
One quarter-tonner destroyed three huts at the foot of the cliff, causing an abnormal explosion and black smoke. This may have been an ammunition dump. Another quarter-tonner destroyed three more huts. A third egg flattened four more. Strafing left three additional huts on fire.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-24 Lontis area 1430 dr 8x500 G.P.

Patrols Smoke Hut and Spot Activity: Flying two Able and two Charlie searches, eight Corsairs yesterday morning reported the following strafing and sightings: One hut smoked on Benana Island (south of Fauro Is.), and two huts set afire at Tandeki on Buka.
Huts on Erventa Island and Gomai (bath near the Shortlands) were strafed. There were definite signs of fresh wheeled traffic from Ruri up the northeast coast to Buka.
Foot and heel marks showed on the sand from Hari to Mobaia Rivers. A good jetty with approach bombed out shows on Shortland Island opposite Gumoi Island.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-24 Able-Charlie Searches 0800-1200 No bombs.

Dusk and Dawn Patrols were negative.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Dusk Patrol Jan. 11 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ-24 Dawn Patrol Jan. 12 No bombs.

NEW BRITAIN
(31 sorties - 4 tons)

Patrols Destroy Barge, Huts and Whale Boat: Half of the twenty-four Corsairs patrolling Rabaul carried quarter tonners over Keravia Bay.
One barge was destroyed, several huts were blown up, and a whale boat was strafed and sunk between Raluana Point and Praed Point. Meagre, inaccurate, automatic-weapons fire came from Praed Point.
One plane was holed by light fire from the northeast coast of Duke of York. The shipping count was negative.

Val Sighted and Chased: A Jap Val was sighted at 1515 yesterday, flying at 1000 feet eight miles east of Cape Lambert (on the northwest tip of New Britain). When sighted, he was heading west.
Two Corsairs closed to within 1000 feet but the Nip jettisoned his belly tank and escaped into a cloud. Six Corsairs were scrambled to search the area but had negative results.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count Jan. 12 No bombs.
24 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 0645-1820 dr 16x500 G.P.
6 F4Us NZ-Green Cape Lambert Scramble 1515 No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(24 sorties - 24 3/4 tons)

Lebrechtshof Bombed and Strafed: Two Corsairs on Kavieng patrol missed with half tonners each, but strafed huts at this plantation near Panapai on the northeast coast of New Ireland.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol 1500-1800 dr 2x1000 G.P.

Three Huts Destroyed at Mongai Bay: The dusk patrol Ventura blasted a trio of buildings at Mongai Bay and strafed a garden near Koka Plantation.
The dawn PV slapped six quarter-tonners at low level on Lakurumau huts. Results not observed. The truck recco's ton-and-a-half hit the water off Panaras.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Patrol Jan. 11 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Patrol Jan. 12 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Truck Recco Jan. 12 dr 6x500 G.P.

Kavieng Patrols Paste Logagon, Balus and Panapai: Four Corsairs, flying in pairs, got two area hits near a building at Logagon Plantation with half-tonners. One 1000-pounder was placed 25 yds. from Balus Bridge, and one in a Panapai garden.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrols 0900-1500 dr 4x1000 G.P.

Three Tons on Kafkaf: Three Corsairs, each loaded with two half-tonners, bombed huts and gardens south of Kafkaf. Foliage concealed possible damage. Strafing was also given area from Kafkaf to Balus Plantation.

For the Record:

3 F4Us NZ-22 Kafkaf dr 6x1000 G.P.

Green Venturas Hit Cape Namaroda: Six PVs dropped thirty-five quarter-tonners on the personnel area at Cape Namaroda for 85% coverage. AIB had reported the target.

For the Record:

6 PVs NZ-2 Cape Namaroda 1107 dr 35x500 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 12

Beefsteak searches say "No Nips". Thick weather northwest of Uncle and north Tare. Track and cover were 50/30 for Tare, 80/75 for Uncle and 100/100 for Victor.
Brewer search was nil. Track and cover were 100/80 for Able and 100/75 for Baker. Instrument flying last 100 miles.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 14 January 1945.

Friday's record of hits was equalled as Piva and Emirau accounted for most of a dozen huts demolished at Mosigetta, eleven destroyed, damaged or fired on Buka, and two more flattened at Lauan Bay.
The early Ventura over New Ireland abridged the Jap's open routes by destroying a secondary bridge and mashing one end of the main bridge at Fatmilak, and scoring another possible hit on a bridge at Mongai Bay. A near miss at Balus made it a fourth for bridge damage.
Bad weather hard-lucked the Rabaul patrols end strikes on this 13th day of the month.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(28 sorties - 8 1/4 tons)

Nips? Nix! The dusk patrol Friday and the dawn patrol Saturday were both negative.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-24 Dusk Patrol Jan. 12 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ-21 Dawn Patrol Jan. 13 No bombs.

Most of Dozen Mosigetta Huts Mashed: Twelve Corsairs, supporting ground forces and led in by a Wirraway, glide attacked eleven or twelve jungle huts at Mosigetta (east of Gazelle Harbor).
The tactical recco plane dropped one smoke bomb on the target for each quartet of attacking fighters. All but one each of a dozen depth charges and a dozen quarter-tonners fell on the target.
Later reconnaissance showed that a majority of the huts were destroyed.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-24 Mosigetta 0820 dr 12x325 D.C. (1 dud)
                                                  12x500 G.P.

Choiseul Personnel Area Hit: Four Piva fighters dropped four depth charges each on Sipasai and Kondakanimboko Islands (off northern Choiseul).
Both attacks were followed by 3 or 4 strafing runs. Results were unobserved. A 400-gallon tank was noted near the remnants of huts on north tip of Sipasai.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-24 Choiseul 1145 dr 8x325 D.C.

Eleven Huts Hit on Buka: A quartet of Corsairs accounted for appreciable damage at Lontis and Lemankoa yesterday with a load of eight quarter-tonners. Four huts were destroyed and three damaged by bombing, and four were fired by strafing. The coastal track from Lontis to Lemanmanu showed wheel tracks.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-24 Buka 1100 dr 8x500 G.P.

Able and Charlie Searches Negative: Four fighters flew these rounds without incident.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-21 Able-Charlie Searches No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(12 sorties 13 1/2 tons)

Friday Patrols Bomb Kavieng and Lamerika: A pair of Corsairs on the afternoon sweep put a single half tonner on the beach near Kavieng wharf. The other plane had no bomb. The dusk Ventura dropped six quarter-tonners on huts at Lamerika. Results were not observed. Meagre accurate light A/A from Sicacui bothered the PV.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol Jan. 12 1500-1800 dr 1x1000 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Patrol Jan. 12 dr 6x500 G.P.

Dawn Patrol Blasts Huts and Bridge: The first Ventura out Saturday morning did himself proud by destroying a pair of huts at Lauan Bay with two quarter-tonners, demolishing a secondary bridge and blasting one end of the main bridge at Fatmilak with two more 500-pounders, and possibly hitting another bridge at Mongai Bay with his other two bombs.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Patrol Jan. 13 dr 6x500 G.P.

Corsairs Bomb Balus Bridge: A pair of fighters dropped two half-tonners near the bridge at Balus, with possible damage resulting. Regular Kavieng patrol was abandoned because of adverse weather. All other flights from Emirau were cancelled.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Balus 0930 dr 2x1000 G.P.

Green Venturas Drop Nine Tons on Namatanai: Aiming at a personnel area reported by AIB, six PVs got 100% coverage (but results not observed) with thirty-six quarter-tonners dropped at low level.
Moderate, inaccurate to accurate, medium tracer fire came from a known position on Malagan River.

For the Record:

6 PVs NZ-2 Namatanai 1645 dr. 36x500 G.P.

NEW BRITAIN
(19 sorties - 3 1/2 tons)

Friday Night Heckler Over Rabaul: The regular PV dropped the usual ton and a half. Only one of the quarter-tonners fell on Rabaul Town. The other five were jettisoned into the sea.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Heckler Jan. 12-13 0010-0200 dr 6x500 G.P.

Adverse Weather Cancelled All Morning Flights.

Rabaul Patrols Active in Afternoon: Fourteen Corsairs made the usual sweeps over the Rabaul area. And Four fighters bombed whale boats on the beach 400 yards southwest of Raluana Point with four half-tonners. Negative results.

For the Record:

14 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 1340-1810 No bombs.
4 F4Us NZ-Green Raluana Point 1500 dr 4x1000 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 13

Beefsteak reports as follows: "PVs went every place, saw everybody. All friendly." The conclusion is that track and cover for Tare, Uncle and Victor sectors were 100/100.
Brewer Venturas saw nothing over full track and 95 percent cover.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 15 January 1945.

Heavy bomb loads were dropped at Panaras, Pinikindu, Lagagon, Panapanan, Kaut Bay, Katu and Bom - giving New Ireland its worst beating this year.
Two Corsairs over Tonolei Harbor strafed and sank a Jap in his canoe and a self-propelled barge with three Japs sitting fat, dumb and happy.
A known barge hideout southwest of Raluana Point was blown apart with five quarter-tonners pin-wheeling the bull's eye.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(44 sorties - 14 tons)

Raker Raked: Saturday's Able and Charlie searches netted one Jap in a garden near Muguai Mission killed by strafing.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 21 Able Search Jan 13. 1330 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ 21 Charlie Search Jan 13. 1000 No bombs.

Two Boats Sunk; Four Nips Killed: A pair of Corsairs on dusk patrol Saturday sank a canoe and killed its occupant at the entrance to Tonolei Harbor. Then, 400 yards west, they sank a self propelled barge and killed the three Japs in it.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 21 Dusk Patrol Jan 13. No bombs.

Kieta Bombed Sunday: A dozen Piva fighters dropped twelve half-tonners on a reported Nip concentration at Kieta yesterday morning. All bombs fell in the target area and the pilots considered anything there was destroyed.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ 21 Kieta 0800 dr. 12x1000 G.P.

Huts at Kalia Pounded: Eight Corsairs, followed by eight more, hit huts northwest of Kalia on Fauro Island with eight half-tonners and sixteen quarter-tonners. All bombs were reported as having fallen in the target area. Twelve strafing runs were also made.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ 21 Fauro Island 1130 dr. 8x1000 G.P.
8 F4Us NZ 21 Fauro Island 1130 dr. 16x500 G.P.

Patrols Reports No Unusual Jappenings: Eight Corsairs swept Motupena Point (central west coast of Bougainville) from early morning to mid-afternoon with negative results.
Two fighters flew the dawn patrol, but the dusk patrol was cancelled.

For the Record:

6 F4Us NZ 21 Motupena Point 0700-1415 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ 21 Motupena Point 0700-1415 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ 24 Dawn Patrol. No bombs.

NEW BRITAIN
(27 sorties - 3 3/4 tons)

Keravia Barge Hideout Sent Sky-high: Four Corsairs on Rabaul patrol spilled seven quarter-tonners on a barge rendezvous one mile southwest of Raluana Point. Five direct hits sent debris high into the air.

Truck Park Hit: Another quartet of patrolling fighters planted three half-tonners in a suspected truck park one mile south of Malapau for unobserved results. Meagre, inaccurate, light A/A, with tracer, came from a known position at Vunakanau.

Sunday Ship Count was negative. No heckler was scheduled Saturday night.

For the Record:

18 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrol 0645-1845 No bombs.
4 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrol 1300 dr. 7x500 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrol dr. 4x1000 G.P. (1 dud).
1 PV NZ 2 Rabaul Ship Count, Jan 14. No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(40 sorties - 45 1/2 tons)

Panaras Huts Get Half Ton: The dawn Ventura put two quarter-tonners on huts at Panaras Plantation. The other four bombs splashed in the sea. Results of hits were not observed.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Dawn patrol dr. 6x500 G.P.

Pinikindu Huts Get 4 1/2 Tons: Three PVs put all eighteen quarter-tonners in the hut area at Pinikindu Village (near Lamussong Plantation). Damage was not appraised.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 4 Pinikindu 0935 dr. 18x500 G.P.

Lagagon Huts Get Ton and a Half: The truck recco PV put six quarter-tonners into the hut area at Lagagon Bay but results were not observed.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Truck Recco dr. 6x500 G.P.

Huts Destroyed at Panemansu: Four Corsairs bombed the Panemansu Plantation (near Fatmilak on the east coast) with eight half-tonners and destroyed several huts. The target was also well strafed.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ 22 Panemansu 0750 dr. 8x1000 G.P.

Kavieng Patrol Craters Road Near Katu: Six Corsairs, flying in pairs on patrol, placed three half-tonners on the road near the Katu Plantation bridge (in from Lossuk Bay). Their bombs also destroyed two huts on the road between Kavieng and Panapai. One bomb hung and was dropped in the sea.

For the Record:

6 F4Us NZ 22 Kavieng Patrol 0830-1615 dr. 6x1000 G.P.

Bombs Bam Bom: Seven Venturas from Green carried out a low level attack on the personnel area at Bom on the west central coast of New Ireland. 40 out of 42 quarter-tonners hit the target and started fires.

For the Record:

7 PVs NZ 2 Bom 1004 dr. 42x500 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 14

Beefsteak saw only Allied ships. Track and cover was: 100/100 for Tare, 100/100 for Uncle, 80/80 for Victor, Thunderstorms were encountered on the outer leg of Victor. Average weather elsewhere.
Brewer searches had track and cover of 100/80 for Able and 100/85 for Baker, weak front was met 260 miles out.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[Dave Homewood]

The next entry will in interesting. Black Monday.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 16 January 1945.

Accurate A/A caught one Corsair during the Piva-Green strike on Toboi. F/L Keefe crashed but came up swimming near the harbor entrance. Corsair patrols guarded him until dark. PV dropped rafts nearby. Dumbo rescue was too hazardous. A/A was intense.
Returning to base, bad visibility caused F/O Randall to crash. He was killed. Six other Corsairs from the Green fighter squadrons failed to get home in the darkness.
New Ireland was hit with 47 1/2 tons of bombs yesterday. Biggest strike was on storage area at Kaut Bay.

NEW BRITAIN
(67 sorties - 16 3/4 tons)

Piva and Green Hit Toboi Plane Park: Eleven Corsairs from Green and twenty from Piva coordinated in striking the float plane hideout below Rabaul.
Green put all its half-tonners and quarter-tonners in the target area. Ten of Piva's quarter-tonners hit, causing a huge sheet of orange-white flame from the top of the ridge overlooking Toboi # 1.
Plane Downed by A/A; Pilot Swimming: No anti-aircraft fire was encountered at the start of the Toboi strike. Meagre, inaccurate light fire came later from Observatory Hill.
Then moderate accurate medium shot up from Malaguna and meagre accurate light from Matupi as the planes headed away from the target.
Flight/Lt. Keefe of NZ-14 caught a direct hit over Simpson Harbor and baled out at 2000 feet. He landed in the water about a mile north of the Beehives and started swimming toward the harbor opening.

Rabaul Patrols Guard Downed Pilot: Twenty Corsairs from Green gave continuous protection to F/L Keefe throughout the day. They braved intense A/A of all calibres from known positions overlooking the harbor.
Ventura Drops Rafts Before Dark: At 1520, the pilot was about halfway between Matupi and Vulcan Crater. Three Corsairs were on station at 1735 and were joined by 12 Corsairs and a Ventura to cover Dumbo rescue.
As Keefe was then drifting back into Simpson Harbor, Dumbo rescue was considered suicidal. Guided by a Corsair, the Ventura made one run and dropped two rafts within 100 yards of swimming pilot.
All planes then set off for base in weather that was getting worse by the minute.

One Corsair Crashes; Six Missing: Enroute to base, and when just 3 1/2 miles from the airstrip, bad visibility caused F/O B. Randall of NZ-16 to crash and he was killed.
Six other Corsairs are missing. Their pilots are: F/L B. Hay and F/L J. Johnson, F/O A. Saywood, F/Sgts I. Munro and J. McArthur and A. Albrecht of NZ Squadrons 14 and 16. The remaining Corsairs, Ventura and Dumbo landed safely.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-14 Toboi 0900 dr 8x1000 G.P.
3 F4Us NZ-14 Toboi 0900 dr 6x500 G.P.
12 F4Us NZ-24 Toboi 0900 dr 24x500 G.P.
8 F4Us NZ-21 Toboi 0900 dr 8x1000 G.P.
20 F4Us NZ-14, 16 Rabaul Patrols No bombs.
12 F4Us NZ-14, 16 Special Patrol 1735 No bombs.
1 PV NZ-2 Special Patrol 1735 No bombs.
1 PBY VPB-44 Special Patrol 1735 No bombs.

Ventura Heckles Rabaul: A lone PV dropped four bombs on Rabaul Town and two on Tobera for unobserved results Sunday night. Intense accurate heavy A/A came from Hospital Ridge. The Sunday morning shipping count was negative.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Heckler 0330-0530 dr 3x500 G.P.
                                                        3x325 D.C.
1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count Jan. 15 No bombs.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(14 sorties - 4 1/2 tons)

Jap Headquarters Hit: Eight Corsairs put sixteen quarter-tonners on the reported command post of the senior military officer at Tausi (near Porporo). Nine bombs hit the area, five were on the fringe, one out and one dud. Later reconnaissance showed no signs of buildings in the area, and signs of previous extensive bombing.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-24 Tausi 1305 dr 16x500 G.P.

A/C Searches Strafe Nips: Two pairs of fighters on patrol emptied their guns on suspected Jap concentrations opposite Teop Island (NE coast of Bougainville).

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Able Search 1230 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ-21 Charlie Search 0810 No bombs.

Motupena Patrol Sprays Rowboat: Two Corsairs over Motupena Point dropped two half-tonners without results, but strafed a small rowboat with footprints nearby (one mile east of the Point).

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Motupena Point 1430-1645 dr 2x1000 G.P.

NEW IRELAND
(45 sorties - 47 1/2 tons)

Kavieng Patrol-Bombs Panapai: A pair of Corsairs missed with half-tonners aimed at huts and a truck south of Panapai. Meagre inaccurate light A/A was encountered.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng patrol 1545-1600 dr 2x1000 G.P.

Roland Young Blasted Again: The dusk PV continued the recent pounding of Roland Young Plantation by dropping six quarter-tonners at low level. Heavy smoke was raised. Also, meagre accurate light A/A came up.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Patrol Jan. 14 dr 6x500 G.P.

Venturas Hit Lamerika, Nemasalang and Panemansu: A ton and a half was dropped on Lamerika huts by the early PV yesterday. Four and a half tons were spilled on other huts at Nemasalang (near Medina). The same load, and strafing, fell on Panemansu huts. Results were not observed for any of these bombings.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Patrol Jan, 15 dr 6x500 G.P.
3 PVs NZ-4 Truck Recco dr 18x500 G.P.
3 PVs NZ-4 Panemansu 0900 dr 18x500 G.P.

Bridge Damaged and 3 Huts Destroyed: Six Corsairs flying in pairs on Kavieng patrol accounted for one half-tonner on Lossuk Bridge and another on nearby huts. Other bombs were dropped at Ulunono and north of Kavieng without observation of the results.

For the Record:

6 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrols 0900-1600 dr 6x1000 G.P.

Ten Tons on Borpop Headquarters: Seven Venturas from Green bombed a Jap headquarters on the east coast of southern New Ireland with forty-two quarter-tonners. Thirty-one bombs hit the target area. Intense inaccurate medium A/A came from known position at Borpop.

For the Record:

7 PVs NZ-2 Borpop 0940 dr 42x500 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 15

Beefsteak reported a storm north of the Equator in Tare and Uncle sectors. Track and cover were 40/40 for Tare, 20/15 for Uncle and 90/85 for Victor. Only friendly contacts were made.
Brewer had negative results with 100/90 track and cover for Able, 100/95 for Baker, A weak front was encountered 275 miles out by Able.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 17 January 1945.

Mitchells from Emirau placed 28 out of 62 half-tonners on Fangelawa Village in northeastern New Ireland, starting two jumbo conflagrations and a pair of smaller fires.
Nadzab Liberators continued their daily visit to the Rabaul area — yesterday hitting Lakunai Drome with 33 out of 48 half tonners.
Corsair patrols circled Green for 120 miles in all directions but found no sign of the six missing Corsairs. One oil slick was noted. A Dumbo and two fighters searched for F/L Keefe without success.

NEW BRITAIN
(24 sorties - no bombs)

None of the Missing Fighters Located Yet: Looking for the six Corsairs overdue at Green, ten Venturas patrolled an area 120x120 miles around Green Island. At ten o'clock an oil slick was noted at 04° 48' S. — 153° 59' E. Gunboats cooperated by searching in the vicinity of Tawui, north of Rabaul.

For the Record:

10 PVs NZ-2 Special Search 0706-1725.

Dumbo Looks for Downed Pilot in Simpson Harbor: A PBY with fighter escort searched from Blanche Bay to Tawui Point for F/L Keefe. A raft trailing dye marker was sighted at the mouth of Blanche Bay. Two rafts had been dropped yesterday. Moderate inaccurate medium A/A came from Matupi Island.
The two Corsairs also strafed a mine between Raluana Point and Sulphur Point. Results were not observed.

For the Record:

1 PBY VPB-44 Special Search 1058-1445.
2 F4Us NZ-Green Special Search.

Corsairs Ignite Trucks and Cutter: Ten fighters were on Rabaul patrol yesterday morning and afternoon. Two strafed and set afire a pair of large trucks west of Vulcan Crater, machine-gunned a medium truck west of Vunapope and left it in flames, and finally strafed a camouflaged 50-foot cutter in southwest Keravia Bay and left it smoking. Intense inaccurate medium A/A came from known positions at Praed Point. Meagre inaccurate tracered light A/A also came from familiar sites on Raluana Point. Three coastal guns were seen under trees at the edge of the beach south of Matupi Crater. The morning shipping count over Rabaul was negative.

For the Record:

10 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 0650-1745 No bombs.
1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count Jan. 16 No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(39 sorties - 32 tons)

Monday Kavieng Patrol Bombs North Cape: Two half tonners were dropped on the personnel area at North Cape by two patrolling Corsairs Monday. Results were not observed.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol Jan. 15 1650-1800 dr 2x1000 G.P.

Dusk Sweep Blasts Huts at Mongai Bay: The twilight Ventura destroyed several huts and cratered a road at Mongai Bay with six quarter-tonners in a low level attack Monday.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Patrol Jan. 15 1605-1902 dr 6x500 G.P.

Dawn Sweep Drops Five Duds: Failure of arming wires spoiled results in a six quarter-tonner attack on Cape Lemaris. One bomb fell with unobserved effect.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Patrol Jan. 16 0558-0919 dr 6x500 G.P.

Truck Recco Conks Koka: Blowing timbers a hundred and fifty feet in the air, one PV put all six of its quarter tonners in the hut area of Koka Plantation.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Truck Recco 1040-1302 dr 6x500 G.P.

Dozen Huts Destroyed at Panaras: Three Ventures put 17 of 18 quarter-tonners on huts at Panaras from low level with shattering success. Twelve huts were tumbled and squashed.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Panaras 1100 dr 18x500 G.P.

Corsairs Start Blaze at Panemansu: Four Corsairs glide bombed huts at Panemansu, putting five of eight half-tonners in the target area and noting a large column of smoke as they left.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-22 Panemansu 0810 dr 8x1000 G.P.

Huts and Gardens Blasted by Patrols: Pairs of Corsairs patrolling the Kavieng area dropped five half-tonners. Huts were damaged and gardens hit at Lemakot and Ululnono Plantations, a road at Lossuk Bay was cratered, and gardens were uprooted at nearby Paruai.

For the Record:

6 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrols 0900-1545 dr 5x1000 G.P.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(30 sorties - 7 3/4 tons)

Gun Emplacements Bombed: Monday's fighter patrol dropped two half-tonners on a suspected gun position on Motupena Point. The dusk patrol put another two half-tonners on the same target. Results were not seen.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Motupena Point Jan. 15 dr 2x1000 G.P.
2 F4Us NZ-21 Dusk Patrol Jan. 15 dr 2x1000 G.P.

15 of 16 Hits at Mosigetta: Eight Corsairs hit Nip concentrations at Mosigetta with sixteen quarter-tonners yesterday morning. Tactical recco spotted the target with a smoke bomb.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-24 Mosigetta 0810 dr 16x500 G.P. (1 dud)

Strike at Motupena Gun: Another double quartet of Corsairs hit a suspected gun position noted by the Jan. 16 dawn patrol in a 100 yard square clearing on Motupena. Four bombs hit near a suspicious crescent-shaped mound fronted by a scorched area. This green mound bounced bullets, so it may be a concrete emplacement.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-24 Dawn Patrol Jan. 16 No bombs.
8 F4Us NZ-24 Motupena Point 1115 dr 14x500 G.P.
                                                       2x325 D.C.

Searches Get Huts, Boats and Nip: The Able and Charlie sweeps by eight fighters killed one Jap at Hitau (off the central west coast of Buka), destroyed two canoes and smoked another, destroyed two huts, and destroyed one dinghy.
Possible radio masts were noted at Tolotapaka (SE coast of Bougainville) and Arigua (E Central coast).
A seemingly serviceable jetty was seen in Ramun Bay (Buka) Sand-bagged gun emplacements were seen under trees at both extremities of Komaliai Bay (NW Shortland Island).
Cut timber and fresh tracks to the jungle were seen north of the Hari River (SW Bougainville).

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-24 Able-Charlie Searches No bombs.

CHOISEUL
(8 sorties - 4 tons)

Barge Hideouts Hit: Eight Corsairs dropped eight half-tonners on two suspected barge hideouts at Sui River on the northeast coast of Choiseul yesterday noon. Later reconnaissance noted no damage.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-21 Choiseul 1200 dr 8x1000 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 16

Beefsteak had no enemy sightings. Track and cover was 100/100 for Tare and Uncle, 70/80 for Victor.
Brewer searches showed no bogies. Track and cover was 100/90 for Able and 100/80 for Baker.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 18 January 1945.

Seven Venturas and six Mitchells from Green poured sixteen tons of bombs on the suspected plane park north of Lakunai Drome. Five out of fifty-five bombs hit the target.
A few hours later a flight of twenty-four Marine Mitchells from Emirau added 140 depth charges to the tonnage on this Sulphur Creek plane hideout. 10% were hits.

A cross-roads was cratered at Liguan Bay on New Britain. This was the only sure damage of the day, though other good hits were undoubtedly made.

NEW IRELAND
(11 sorties - 8 1/2 tons )

Bombs Hit Kavieng Revetments: Two Corsairs on patrol Tuesday dive bombed the runway at Kavieng with two half-tonners. Both hit revetments near the strip.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 22 Kavieng Patrol Jan 16 1545-1800 dr. 2x1000 G.P.

Fessoa Huts Take 1 1/2 Tons: The PV on the twilight turn Tuesday bombed huts at Fessoa Plantation at low level. Six quarter-tonners were dropped, but results were not observed.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Dusk Patrol Jan 16 1555-1925 dr. 6x500 G.P.

Dawn sweep Hits Lossuk: The early PV on Wednesday missed the bridge at Lossuk Bay with its six quarter-tonners. Meagre accurate light A/A from the Dampit Bay area (on the central west coast) holed the astro-hatch of the Ventura. The ship-truck recco low-leveled Fessoa huts with the same load, but results were not observed.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Dawn patrol Jan 17 0745-1009 dr. 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ 4 Ship-Truck recco Jan 17 1255-1521 dr. 6x500 G.P.

Kavieng Air Field Again Hit: Six fighters dive-bombed with half-tonners and placed one north of Kavieng Town, two at the air strip and one at revetments. Two were duds.

For the Record:

6 F4Us NZ 22 Kavieng 0915 dr. 6x1000 G.P. (2 duds)

BOUGAINVILIE-BUKA
(37 sorties - 15 3/4 tons)

Makatowa Concentrations Bombed: Supporting ground advances along the mountain road between Mawaraka and Makatowa, twelve Corsairs bombed a reported Jap center at Makatowa yesterday morning with six tons of bombs. 19 out of 20 hit the target spot-smoked by the tactical reconnaissance plane. The previous day's dusk patrol dropped no bombs.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 24 Dusk patrol Jan 16 No bombs.
8 F4Us NZ 24 Makatowa Jan 17 0830 dr. 16x500 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ 24 Makatowa Jan 17 0830 dr. 4x1000 G.P.

Bull's Eye on Makatowa Gun Location: Following a tactical recco plane to the site of a suspected Jap gun position, two Corsairs dropped their four depth charges on almost the exact spot indicated by the smoke bomb.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 24 Makatowa 1415 dr. 4x325 D.C.

Korio Concentration Castigated: Eight corsairs put four tons on a Jap troop hub at Korio (SE interior of Bougainville). All bombs fell in the vicinity of the tactical recco smoke bomb, but results were not observed.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ 21 Korio 1110 dr. 8x1000 G.P.

Four Tons on Motupena Point: Eight more fighters hit a suspected gun position on Motupena Point with sixteen quarter-tonners. They fell in even patterns on the target area.
Note: Tuesday's suspicions green mound is now believed to be built not by Nippon but by Nature.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ 24 Motupena Point 1120 dr. 16x500 G.P.

Able-Charlie Searches were carried out as usual.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 21 Able Search 1250 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ 21 Charlie Search 1250 No bombs.

CHOISEUL
(4 sorties - 2 tons)

Phantom Japs Driven Into Caves and Shelled: At Navy request, an effort was made to trap Japs at Nukiki on the NW coast. Four fighters bombed derelict huts after finding no sign of supposed shelters from which the Japs were to be driven. However, Navy guns then shelled cave locations 500 yards north, as planned. Pilots observed no results.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ 24 Nukiki 0700 dr. 8x500 G.P.

Special Search is Negative: Two Corsairs yesterday morning flew a special sweep but saw nothing. This search was presumably in continuation of the efforts to locate the missing planes which failed to return to base Monday night. Shipping Count also negative.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-Green Special Search No bombs.
1 PV NZ 2 Shipping Count No bombs.

Cross-Roads Cratered at Liguan Bay: Scoring the only observed result of the day, one of the dozen fighters on Rabaul patrol yesterday dropped a half-tonner on a cross-roads at Liguan Bay.
One bomb fell on a barge hideout southwest of Keravia Bay, one on the butted area at Raluana Point, one on a road near Tobera rubber plantation, and one in Liguan Bay.
All results from these bombs were unobserved. Intense accurate tracered light A/A came from the tip of Raluana Point.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul patrols 0700-1800 dr. 6x1000 G.P.

Marines and NZs Bomb Sulphur Creek: The plane park at Sulphur Creek was visited with forty-one quarter-tonners from seven New Zealand PVs, and four more 500-pounders (semi-armor piercing) and ten half tonners from six Marine Mitchells. Five of the quarter-tonners hit the target. The remainder went south and west of the mark.

For the Record:

7 PVs NZ 2 Sulphur Creek 1116 dr. 41x500 G.P.
6 PBJs VMB 423 Sulphur Creek 1116 dr. 4x500 G.P.
                                                        10x1000 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 17

Beefsteak reported only friendly sightings. Track and cover was 50/50 for Tare, 50/50 for Uncla and 100/100 for Victor. It was storming in the northwest part of the search area.
Brewer ran full track with 80% cover for Able and 90% for Baker. Fair weather throughout.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[chinapilot]

Aug 2, 2020 11:19:00 GMT 12 davidd said:

Enjoying these quite detailed daily accounts of activities over and around Bougainville, New Britain and New Ireland, quite a different style to the NZ narratives! Also very detailed geographic locations not normally seen in NZ accounts, the writer of these notes obviously had access to some very good local maps.
David D

Trying to find my 1944 'Pacific Islands Handbook' as this area was really well mapped both prior to and during WWII. The clip from the film showing the RNZAF pilots briefing at Piva where the officer is pointing to a very detailed map of central Bougainville gives a good idea of what was available.

This part of New Guinea was not densely populated and apart from scattered local villages there were many plantations (when copra was 'king') and mission stations. The mapping was started by the Germans but of course they were kicked out in 1914. The Germans built the Bolminski Highway down about 3/4s of New Ireland' s east coast so naturally many settlements were established there. Most of the larger plantations were there when the Australians took over and there were some very accurate maps available in the inter war years.

Evidently a lot of the maps were enhanced due to the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron using F-7As and by 1944 these maps were to a high standard as regards landmarks and terrain.

This was a remote area to operate in - the Japs seemed to have small outposts everywhere and if someone bailed out his reception was not going to be friendly especially from some of the locals who as it may ascertained from the reports would have been the recipients of unwelcome attention at times. Not every place mentioned had enemy personnel and many 'innocent' villages were shot up and many locals were killed.

Thanks again 'aircraftclocks' for the thread.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 19 January 1945.

They probably need stretchers on Hospital Ridge. A Ventura over Rabaul Wednesday night drew medium A/A fire from the position and promptly countered with six bombs. One depth charge exploded just fifty yards from the muzzle flash and the A/A shut up for good.
Piva continued to plaster targets spotted by tactical reconnaissance planes. Two large huts were destroyed at Tokuaka on the south coast of Bougainville, and four more were razed on the north end of Buka Island.
A paddling Jap off Poporan has assembled a fine collection of .50 calibre bullets — in him.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(40 sorties-14 tons)

Two Strikes at Tokuaka: Twelve Corsairs, led by tactical reconnaissance, hit Jap concentrations at Tokuaka (at the bottom of the Bougainville coastline). All twelve half-tonners were dropped in the target area, and it was then strafed. Two large huts are reported destroyed.
Several hours later, another eight fighters hit Tokuaka with another eight half-tonners, Five fell right on the area smoked by the tactical recco plane, two bombs were within 40 yards. One was a dud.
Four planes then strafed six to eight huts about 200 yards inland.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-21 Tokuaka 0820 dr 12x1000 G.P.
8 F4Us NZ-21 Tokuaka 1200 dr 8X1000 G.P. (one dud).

Four Huts on North Buka are Blasted: Eight fighters bombed various huts on the northern part of Buka Island with sixteen quarter-tonners. Four huts were definitely destroyed.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-24 Buka 0930 dr 16x500 G.P. (1 dud).

Bougainville Patrols Kill One Nip: The dusk patrol on Wednesday was flown without incident, as was the dawn patrol Thursday.
Eight Corsairs, in pairs, flew Able and Charlie searches, killing one Jap in a canoe off Poporan Isle (central west coast of Buka). They reported a timbered hut, partly sunk and painted green, 80 yards inland and 300 yards west of Kahili strip. An oil slick was noted in a small inlet near the, mouth of a creek west of Moila Point.
The previously reported aerial in Arigua Plantation (central east coast) has been dismantled and there is a ladder against the tree. Meagre inaccurate machine gun fire came from Kahili strip.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Dusk Patrol Jan. 17 No bombs.
2 F4Us NN-24 Dawn Patrol Jan. 18 No bombs.
8 F4Us NZ-24 Able-Charlie Searches No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(15 sorties-15 tons).

Wednesday Patrols Hit Kavieng and Pinikindu: One of the two Corsairs on Kavieng patrol the 17th dive bombed Kavieng revetments with a half-tonner.
The Ventura on dusk patrol gave a low-level pasting with six quarter-tonners to huts at Pinikindu (on the central east coast). Results were not observed.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol Jan. 17 1545-1800 dr 1x1000 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Patrol Jan. 17 dr 6x500 G.P.

Thursday Sweeps Drop Four Tons: The dawn patrol on the 18th dropped six quarter-tonners at low level on Medina Plantation for unobserved results.
This PV also strafed forty cattle and wounded one Jap at Kantomut Plantation on central west coast.
The truck-and-ship recco Ventura hit Panaras huts with six 500-pounders at low level. Results were not observed.
Four Corsairs, flying in pairs on Kavieng patrol, cratered the Kavieng runway and destroyed a small building in Kavieng with their two half-tonners. Weather cancelled other Kavieng patrols.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Patrol Jan. 18 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Truck and Ship Recco 1049-1454 dr 6x500 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol 0915-1440 dr 2x1000 G.P.

Venturas Hit Barge Hideout: Six PVs low-leveled a suspected barge hideout at Dunup Plantation on the southern west coast with 35 quarter-tonners. One bomb dropped in the sea.
Two gunboats marked the target with tracer fire. These ships confirmed bomb hits. While strafing the target, one PV received moderate inaccurate A/A from positions north and south of the target.

For the Record:

6 PVs NZ-2 Dunup 0735-0820 dr 36x500 G.P.

NEW BRITAIN
(26 sorties-2 3/4 tons)

Corsairs Destroy Huts and Smoke Truck: Three fighters bombed partly-concealed huts in Keravia Bay and five miles east of Cape Liguan yesterday noon with three half-tonners. Two direct hits destroyed an indeterminate number of huts as debris was flung high and black smoke billowed up.
Two large trucks were strafed a quarter mile west of Ralum. One was left smoking. One burst of inaccurate light A/A was met.

For the Record:

3 F4Us NZ-Green Keravia Bay 1200 dr 3x1000 G.P.

Heckler Silences A/A: On Wednesday night, the Rabaul heckler encountered moderate inaccurate medium fire from Hospital Ridge. Three depth charges and three quarter-ton semi-armor piercing bombs were promptly dropped on this target. One depth charge struck fifty yards from the muzzle flash and all A/A fire ceased.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Heckler Jan. 17 2244-2315 dr 3x325 D.C.
                                                                      3x500 S.A.P.

Rabaul Patrols: The shipping count yesterday was negative. Twenty-one Corsairs covered Rabaul during the day. Three planes returned to base early because of engine or radio trouble.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count No bombs.
21 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 0715-1800 No bombs.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 18
Three Venturas from Beefsteak reported no Nips over T-U-V sectors. Track and cover was 50/50 for Tare, 15/35 for Uncle and 15/10 for Victor. Bad weather at the Equator turned back these searches.
Brewer saw nothing over full track. Cover was 85 for Able and 90 for Baker.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 20 January 1945.

Twenty-four Marine Mitchells scheduled to hit Tobera were forced by adverse weather to drop their 72 half-tonners on Kavieng for unobserved results. Three different fighter patrols got good hits on the runway with 1000-pounders.
Mitchells and Venturas plastered a familiar supply and personnel area northeast of Tobera with quarter-tonners and depth charges totalling more than fifteen tons. 25 out of 70 hits in the area were reported.
Two Corsairs were holed by A/A yesterday. One was hit at Hangan (southeast Buka). Another was hit hear Kahili and was forced to crash-land at his base. The pilot was not hurt.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(30 sorties - 8 tons)

Pill-Boxes and Jetty on Taiof Bombed: Twelve Corsairs, led by tactical reconnaissance, hit three targets on Taiof Island yesterday morning with two dozen quarter-tonners. Three fell on pillboxes, with five more bombs within 20-50 yards. A second target (a T-shaped object) got four bomb hits and four more within 20-50 yards. The third target was a jetty. Four bombs fell on the approach, and four missed.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-24 Taiof Island 0815 dr 24x500 G.P.

Rakururi Building Hit: Four fighters bombed a suspected troop concentration in a building at Rakururi on the southwest coast of Bougainville. Tactical recco spotted the victim and four half-tonners fell in the target area. The building and surroundings were the strafed.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-21 Rakururi 1100 dr 4x1000 G.P.

Corsair Hit by A/A and Crashes; Pilot Safe: The dusk patrol Thursday was uneventful, but trouble greeted two of the dozen Corsairs flying Able and Charlie searches yesterday.
While strafing camp fires one mile east of Kahili, a patrol Corsair caught a 40mm shell from some place between Kangu Hill and Kahili. The fighter crash-landed at his base and the pilot was uninjured.
Another plane was holed by 20mm fire while strafing camp fires on the main road to Hangan (southeast Buka). Two huts were smoked on the west coast of Buka.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-24 Dusk Patrol Jan. 18 No bombs.
12 F4Us NZ-21 Able-Charlie Searches Jan. 19 No bombs.

NEW BRITAIN
(32 sorties -16 1/4 tons)

Tobera Dump Gets 15 Tons: Hitting the dump and personnel area at Tobera 35 A and 35 B, six Mitchells from Green and seven Venturas unloaded forty-six quarter-tonners and twenty depth charges on the targets. The Venturas scored 25 out of 42 hits with their quarter-tonners. One PBJ dropped four 500-pounders south of the mark, and the other five Mitchells put their depth charges well east of the target.
One PBJ returned early end jettisoned its depth charges at sea.

For the Record:

7 PBJs VMB-423 Tobera 35 A-B 1150 dr 4x500 G.P.
                                                    24x325 D.C.
7 PVs NZ-2 Tobera 35 A-B 1150 dr 42x500 G.P.

Rabaul Patrols Blaze Two Fuel Trucks: Thursday's heckler put two depth charges on Rabaul Town, one on Vunakanau, and jettisoned three. The Friday morning ship count was negative.
Adverse weather cancelled two patrols Friday, but eight Corsairs were over the Rabaul area from 0915 to 1250, strafing and killing two Japs at Bitalobo (near Ralum, east of Raluana Point), and strafing six trucks at Tobera rubber plantation for unobserved results.
Eight Corsairs on patrol from 1430-1810 strafed two large trucks loaded with fuel drums one mile east of Malapau (also east of Raluana Point). The two vehicles were left in raging flames and may be considered destroyed. Forty minutes later, black smoke was still in evidence, billowing to 1500 feet.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Heckler Jan. 18 2101-2247 dr 6x325 D.C.
1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count Jan. 19 No bombs.
16 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 0915-1250, 1430-1810 No bombs

NEW IRELAND
(38 sorties—48 3/4 tons)

Venturas Start Fires at Cape Lemeris: Three PVs dropped 18 quarter-tonners from minimum altitude at the the target on Cape Lemeris 17 of the 18 bombs hit the area. Strafing with 2000 rounds resulted in thick smoke pouring skyward.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Cape Lemeris 1000 dr 18x500 G.P.

Sweeps Bomb Gardens and Huts: The dusk sweep Thursday dropped five quarter-tonners on gardens at Amba for unobserved results. The dawn PV yesterday low-leveled huts at Lamernewi and strafed fires at Katu. One bomb was jettisoned near Roland Young Plantation. All results were unobserved.
The truck-and-ship reconnaissance Ventura attacked Lakarumau huts at low level and probably destroyed three huts with its six quarter-tonners. Ths huts were also strafed with 1500 rounds.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Sweep Jan. 18 1628-1928 dr 5x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Sweep Jan. 19 0605-0941 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Truck and Ship Recco 1152-1424 dr 6x500 G.P.

Kavieng Patrols Blast Strip and Road: Pairs of Corsairs over the Kavieng area dropped one half-tonner at Balus Bridge, another hit the north side of Kavieng strip, two later hit the same end.
The afternoon pair put a half-tonner directly in the center of the runway and hit west of the road junction with another. The last flight dropped theirs on Lemaket Plantation and scampered home early before bad weather closed in.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrols dr 8x1000 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 19
Friendly sightings only from Beefsteak. Track and cover were 100/100 for Tare, 100/90 for Uncle and 75/66 for Victor.
No Japs were seen by Brewer. Track and cover were 100/95 for Able and 100/85 for Baker.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 21 January 1945.

17 Mitchells swarmed over Kavieng again yesterday morning. Two half-tonners landed square on the strip, but bomb sight trouble spoiled the accuracy of the rest of the 25-ton load.
Corsairs put 12 half-tonners in the bivouac area at Korio (south-central interior of Bougainville). Four huts were destroyed and the other three damaged beyond use.
A/A was reported from six points on New Ireland and four places in the Rabaul area.

NEW IRELAND
(35 sorties - 38 3/4 tons)

Green Bombs and Strafes Borpop: Three Venturas hit the personnel area at Borpop yesterday morning in a low-level attack. Six 300-pounders blasted the target; 12 more fell short. Six half-tonners were in the racks, but one fell short, 3 were jettisoned at sea, and 2 hung up and were returned to base.
Results of the attack were not observed. Intense accurate light flak came from Lipeck Island, moderate accurate medium from a known position at Borpop, and meagre inaccurate medium from Himau plantation.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 2 Borpop 0835 dr. 18x300 G.P.
                                         4x1000 G.P.

Huts Hit at Koka, Panaras and Panemansu: The dawn Ventura yesterday dropped six quarter-tonners on huts at Koka (central west coast).
No results seen. Later in the morning three PVs placed eighteen quarter-tonners among huts at Panaras, leaving debris and small fires. One burst of inaccurate medium A/A was encountered. The truck-ship recco in the early afternoon placed six more quarter-tonners on huts at Panemansu (central east coast) for unobserved results.
Meagre inaccurate light A/A came from two miles southeast of Roland Young plantation. Other patrols carried no bombs.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Dawn Sweep Jan 20 dr. 6x500 G.P.
3 PVs NZ 4 Panaras 1045 dr. 18x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ 4 Truck Recco 1304-153? dr. 6x500 G.P.
6 F4Us NZ 22 Kavieng Patrols 0900-161? No bombs.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(39 sorties - 13 1/2 tons)

Buritsiotoara Bivouac Bombed: Friday afternoon eleven Piva fighters hit the Jap bivouac area at this small place with a big name on the top side of the loop marking Allied occupation of Bougainville.
Twenty-two quarter-tonners were dropped and the area was considered well covered though the pilots experienced some difficulty in spotting the target.

For the Record:

11 F4Us NZ 24 Buritsiotoara Jan 19 1700 dr. 22x500 G.P.

Korio Quarters Quashed: Yesterday a dozen Corsairs led by tactical reconnaissance dropped twelve half-tonners in the bivouac area at Korio. Four huts were destroyed and the remaining three were left in a damaged and unserviceable condition.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ 21 Korio Jan 20 1440 dr. 12x1000 G.P.

Sweeps Flatten Four More Huts: The dusk sweep Friday was uneventful, but four fighters yesterday dropped eight quarter-tonners on huts on the coast of Morgusiai Island opposite Siau and claimed one large hut and three others destroyed.
Two Able searches and two Charlie searches were flown and their bag for the day consisted of two canoes strafed and sunk on the north coast of Piedu, and one of three Nips killed. Two fighters flew the dawn patrol without incident.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 21 Dusk Patrol Jan 19 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ 24 Dawn Patrol Jan 20 No bombs.
4 F4Us NZ 24 S. Bougainville Patrol Jan 20 dr. 8x500 G.P.
8 F4Us NZ 24 Able-Charlie Sweeps. Jan 20 No bombs.

NEW BRITAIN
(15 sorties - 3 tons)

Ventura Hunts Sub at Open Bay: The Rabaul ship count was negative, but another PV was sent to locate a small sub reported at 04°56'S.-151°36'E. by AIB. A two hour search netted no results though some patches of oil were seen.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 2 Ship Count Jan 20 No bombs.
1 PV NZ 2 Special Search 0625-0800 No bombs.

Rabaul Patrols Damage Large Truck: Eight Corsairs flew patrols yesterday morning. A large truck was strafed and damaged at Raluana Point. Meagre inaccurate medium A/A was met. A machine gun at Rember Point (on Liguan Bay) was strafed and silenced after it sent up intense but inaccurate fire.
Intense accurate light A/A also came from Keravia.

Weather Cuts Other Flights: Four fighters of the third patrol returned to base following their take-off because of bad weather developing. Four half-tonners were dropped at sea. All later patrols stayed on the ground.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 0710-1115 No bombs.
4 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols dr. 4x1000 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 20

Beefsteak was all friendly with track and cover 60/80 for Tare, 95/80 for Uncle and 80/100 for Victor.
Brewer had full track and 75 percent cover for Able and Baker sectors.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 22 January 1945.

Marine Mitchells from Green placed 16 out of 17 bombs on a possible plane park at Vunakanau yesterday morning. An explosion and fire resulted in thick black smoke rising in a great wave hundreds of feet into the air. An unknown number of Venturas cooperated in this strike, but their bombs were off the target.
A tactical reconnaissance plane spotted two bivouac sites near Kieta on the central east coast of Bougainville, and a dozen Corsairs straddled these targets with six tons of 500-pounders. A later tactical recco reported excellent results. The Australian ground forces also had a good day - killlng 16 Nips, wounding 7 and capturing 4.
Emirau strikes were weathered out.

NEW BRITAIN
(31 sorties - 9 tons)

Vunakanau Bursts and Burns: Seven Marine Mitchells bombed Vunakanau #7 with thirteen half-tonners and four 500-pound semi-armor-piercing bombs. One half-tonner hung-up. All the rest of the seventeen bombs fell in the target area, causing an explosion and a fire. Thick black smoke billowed to 1000 feet.
Venturas were part of this strike, but their bombs all fell to the west of the target (bomb load not given in despatch). No A/A was encountered.

For the Record:

7 PBJs VMB-423 Vunakanau 1137 dr 13x1000 G.P.
                                                       4x500 S.A.P.
? PVs NZ-2 Vunakanau 1137 Not given.

Patrols Strafe Boat, Truck and Huts: Twenty-three Corsairs swept the Rabaul area yesterday. (Also, PV ship count. Report negative).
Three carrying half-tonners hit a suspected dump north of Keravat strip with unobserved results.
A 20-foot flat-bottomed boat at the Mandres jetty (west of Keravat) was strafed and damaged.
Farther west along the coast two huts on Missikonapuka Island were strafed and completely gutted.
A truck near Bailu Plantation (west of Tobera) was destroyed by strafing. One burst of medium A/A came from Raniola Plantation (north of Tobera).

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count No bombs.
3 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols dr 3x1000 G.P.
20 F4Us NZ-Green Rabaul Patrols 0725-1800 No bombs.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(34 sorties-12 tons)

Kieta Bivouac Gets Six Tons: Twelves Piva fighters led by tactical reconnaissance hit the bivouac area at Kieta (on the central east coast) yesterday morning. Twenty-four quarter-tonners were dropped. 14 out of 16 got good coverages on Target A. All eight on Target B ringed the mark. Later reports say the strike was very effective.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-24 Kieta 0830 dr 24x500 G.P.

Direct Hit on Naval Quarters: Eight Corsairs dropped 16 quarter-tonners on a suspected naval personnel area at Baniu on the northeast coast. There was one direct hit on a hut. The rest fell in a close pattern around the target.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-24 Baniu 1140 dr 16x500 G.P.

Rakururi Again Bombed: Four Corsairs spilled another two tons on a target spotted by tactical recco at Rakururi on the southwest coast. Two half-tonners exploded within 15 or 20 feet of the mark, one was 200 feet off and one fell in the sea. One hut was holed.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-21 Rakururi 1130 dr 4x1000 G.P.

Patrols Strafe Huts and Boats: The Saturday dusk patrol was negative.
Eight fighters on Able and Charlie searches yesterday strafed huts on the northwest side of Numa Numa Plantation (central east coast) and three rowing boats at Campbell's Point on Buka for unobserved results.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-24 Dusk Patrol Jan. 20 No bombs.
8 F4Us NZ-21 A-C Searches Jan. 21 No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(4 sorties - 3 3/4 tons)

Venturas Low-Level Pinikindu and Lamerika: The dusk sweep Saturday placed one quarter-tonner on huts at Pinikindu for unobserved results. The other five bombs hung up momentarily, and went into the sea. The dawn sweep Sunday out its six quarter-tonners on huts at Lamerika. Again results were not observed. Other strikes were weathered except late Kavieng patrol and dusk sweep last reported on station.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Sweep Jan. 20 1626-1850 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Sweep Jan. 21 0603-0920 dr 6x500 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 21

Beefsteak says only friendlies sighted on shortened courses. Track and cover were 10/05 for Tare, 15/40 for Uncle and 60/66 for Victor.
Brewer reports that poor visibility gave only 80 percent cover on full track for Able and Baker searches. Negative results.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[chinapilot]

Interesting to see mention of a bombing/strafing raid on Borpop (New Ireland 21 Jan)
Lived down the coast from there for a time in the early ‘70s and clambered over the ‘Tony’s’ there ( long gone).
The owner of a copra plantation nearby was ‘adopted’ as a small child by the pilots there at one time and he described how one day there was a lot of noise as the airfield was attacked.
I always imagined it would the RNZAF so it’s interesting to read this as the NZ records are relatively dry in comparison.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 23 January 1945.

Seven Venturas shouldered an unprecedented total of ten half-tonners and forty-two 300-pounders to give the personnel area at Namatanai air-field a proper drubbing.
The Nips had a high old time at Koka, on the opposite coast of New Ireland, also visited yesterday by Venturas. Eighteen quarter-tonners were dropped and four bodies were flung skyward as all bombs struck the hut area.
The submarine reported 80 miles southwest of Munda was not found by a special Ventura sent to search that vicinity.

NEW IRELAND
(24 sorties - 24 3/4 tons)

Namatanai Absorbs Eleven Tons: Seven Venturas from Green low-leveled the personnel area near Namatanai Drome. Ten half-tonners and forty-two 300-pounders were dropped. 7 of the 10 big bombs and 31 of the 42 smaller ones fell in the target area, but results were not observed. The remainder splashed in the sea. Meagre inaccurate light A/A came from a known position at Namatanai.

For the Record:

7 PVs NZ 2 Namatanai 1204 dr. 10x1000 G.P.
                                                42x300 G.P.

Bodies Flung in the Air by Koka: Three Venturas from Emirau dropped 18 quarter-tonners on Koka plantation yesterday morning. All bombs fell in the hut area and four bodies were tossed aloft by the blast. Damage to huts was not seen.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 2 Koka Plantation 1030 dr. 18x500 G.P.

Corsair Patrols Damage Huts and Gardens: A pair of fighters from Emirau flew Kavieng patrol Sunday afternoon without any action, but three Corsairs yesterday damaged several huts at Mongai by strafing and glide-bombing with two half-tonners each. Other fighters on patrol Monday pitted gardens at Lebrechtshof with a quarter-tonner, and put another east of the jetty at Kavieng Town for unobserved results.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 22 Kavieng Patrol Jan 21 1345-1805 No bombs.
3 F4Us NZ 22 Mongai Bay Jan 22 0855 dr. 6x1000 G.P.
6 F4Us NZ 22 Kavieng Area Jan 22 0827-1605 dr. 6x500 G.P. (4 duds)

Venturas Continue Hut Hunt: On the dusk sweep Sunday, one PV placed 4 out of 6 quarter-tonners in the hut area at Ulunone for unobserved results.
The dawn patrol Monday dropped 6 out of 6 quarter-tonners on the huts at Nemasalang (results not seen).
A later PV recco quarter-tonned Lamussong huts six times, destroying 2 of them.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 4 Dusk Sweep Jan 21 1615-1930 dr. 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ 4 Dawn Sweep Jan 22 0604-0924 dr. 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ 4 Truck Recco Jan 22 1152-1425 dr. 6x500 G.P.

GREEN ISLANDS
(2 sorties - No bombs)

Venturas in Distress Pancake Safely: Green received a signal that an aircraft was in distress with fuel trouble. At 1102 a Dumbo went aloft and at 1142 a Ventura was also airborne. At 1210 they joined four Marine Venturas, enroute to the Gilbert Islands, at a position 04°02' South - 155°00' East. All planes landed safely at 1241.

For the Record:

1 PBY VPB-44 Special Sortie 1102 No bombs.
1 PV NZ-2 Special Sortie 1142 No bombs.

NEW BRITAIN
(33 sorties - 2 tons)

Huts and Truck Bombed and Strafed: Two quartets of Corsairs prowled over the Tobera preserve yesterday. One foursome dropped four half-tonners on concealed huts at Gilalun Plantation (east of Tobera) for unobserved results. The other quadruplets strafed three trucks at Kurudui Plantation (on the coast, east of Raluana), damaging one.
Also, 18 tons on Tobera by 6 Nadzab Libs.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ 16 Gilalun Plantation dr. 4x1000 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ 16 Kurudui Plantation No bombs.

Rabaul Patrols Uneventful: No heckler was scheduled for Sunday night. The Monday shipping count was negative. Two dozen Corsairs flew the rounds during the day, two returning early (one with hydraulic trouble).

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 2 Rabaul Shipping Count Jan 22 No bombs.
24 F4Us NZ 16,17 Rabaul Patrols. 0715-1810 No bombs.

BOUGAINVILLE - BUKA
(20 sorties - 6 tons)

Fighters Bomb Camps at Soraken and Hongorai River: Eight Corsairs, led by tactical recco, hit the bivouac area at Soraken (NW coast) yesterday morning with eight half-tonners for unobserved results.
Four Corsairs later pinpointed a suspected camp in the Hongorai River area (SW coast) with four half-tonners, but pilots could not tell if hits were made.
Three strafing runs followed the bombing.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ 21 Soraken 0800 dr. 8x1000 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ 21 Hongorai River 1145 dr. 4x1000 G.P.

Searches Spot Damage at Kalia: Dusk and Dawn patrols were up as usual.
Four Fighters on Able and Charlie searches strafed huts north of Kalia on Fauro Island and saw evidence of considerable damage from the strike by sixteen Corsairs on January 14th.
Eight half-tonners and 16 quarter-tonners were then reported to have fallen in the target area. Also, twelve strafing runs were made.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ 21 Dusk Patrol Jan 21 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ 21 Dawn Patrol Jan 22 No bombs.
4 F4Us NZ 21 Able-Charlie Searches Jan 22 No bombs.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 22
Beefsteak says all sightings were friendly. Also comments that they were uncooperative. Just a miff over an IFF. Track and cover were 90/85 for Tare, 100/100 for Uncle and 40/100 for Victor.
Brewer netted nil over 100/95 track and cover for Able, 100/90 for Baker.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ 4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

SPECIAL SEARCH

Sub Search is Negative: A submarine periscope was sighted Sunday night by a Seacat. Location: 08°56' South - 156°03' East. A Ventura from Green was ordered to make an Able-plan search over the area of the sighting yesterday. The result was negative, and the Ventura then bedded down at Munda.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ 2 Special Search No bombs.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 24 January 1945.

The main strike of the day was on reported ammunition and fuel concentrations at Rembarr Range, west of Rabaul. 300-pound semi-armor-piercing bombs and half-ton general purpose bombs hit on and about the target at a rate of more than 10,000 pounds a minute. Twenty Corsairs, Mitchells and Venturas teamed up for this attack.
A taxiway and revetments at Vunakanau were cratered by Marine Mtchells dropping 25 tons. More Leatherneck PBJs put fifty-four quarter-tonners on the Sulphur Creek area.
Only eleven tons fell on Bougainville and New Ireland. Three strafed Nips was the total observed result from these areas.

NEW BRITAIN
(71 sorties - 65 3/4 tons)

Rembarr Ammo and Fuel Dumps Bombed: In four minutes yesterday, 18 planes unloaded 46,600 pounds of bombs on ammunition and fuel dumps west of Rabaul in the Rembarr Range.
Corsairs, Mitchells and Venturas coordinated in striking at this secret base recently reported by native coastwatchers. Four Corsairs put one half-tonner on the target, 2 over and 1 dud. Seven Marine PBJs put 16 half-tonners north and south of the target.
Finally, the seven Venturas, carrying 14 half-tonners and 42 300-pounders, were all east of the targets. All results were unobserved. There was no A/A fire.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-16 Rembarr Range 1100-1104 dr 4x1000 G.P. (1 dud).
7 PBJs VMB-423 Rembarr Range 1100-1104 dr 16x1000 G.P.
7 PVs NZ-2 Rembarr Range 1100-1104 dr 14x1000 G.P.
                                                              42x300 S.A.P.

Corsairs Very Truckulent: Four fighters on Rabaul patrol yesterday strafed and framed one truck east of Raluana Point, another truck at the northwest corner of Keravia Bay, and still another truck near Keravat. Meagre accurate light A/A came from known positions on Raluana Point and Keravia bay.
Four other Corsairs dropped two half-tonners on concealed huts at Rember (on the coast, west of Liguan Bay), and two half-tonners on huts at Ravalien (north of Tobera, on the coast).
Results were unobserved. Other Corsair patrols were uneventful.

For the Record:

24 F4Us NZ-16, 17 Rabaul Patrols 0710-1810 dr 4x1000 G.P.

Venturas Bomb Dromes: Monday night the heckler dropped two quarter-tonners on Rapopo, and one each on Hospital Ridge, Vunakanau, Tobera and Lakunai for unobserved results.
The Tuesday morning ship count was negative. One burst of inaccurate heavy ack-ack came from Hospital Ridge.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Heckler Jan. 22 1948-2200 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count Jan. 23 No bombs.

NEW IRELAND
(10 sorties - 6 1/4 tons)

Miscellaneous Patrol Activity: The late Kavieng patrol Monday was a pair of Corsairs. They dive-bombed huts at Put Put with quarter-tonners, one was a dud. The other missed. A Ventura on dusk sweep Monday released six quarter-tonners at low level on Lossu gardens, with unobserved results.
One PV on dawn patrol yesterday dropped six quarter-tonners on a fire near Lakurefange, but didn't note the results.
The truck recco Ventura later low-leveled huts north of Medina but didn't see where the six quarter-tonners fell.
Finally, five Corsairs on Kavieng patrol during the day dive-bombed various targets with one quarter-tonner each.
One live and one dud fell in a garden near Amba. Two missed a large hut at Bagaterre Harbor on the west coast of northern New Ireland. The fifth bomb missed a Hut at Ulunono.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol Jan. 22 1545-1800 dr 2x500 G.P. (1 dud)
1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Sweep Jan. 22 1628-1912 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Sweep Jan. 23 0635-0832 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Truck Recco Jan. 23 1152-1328 dr 6x500 G.P.
5 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrols Jan. 23 0900-1345 dr 5x500 G.P. (1 dud).

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(20 sorties - 5 tons)

Corsairs Blast Suspected Headquarters: Twelve fighters, led by tactical reconnaissance, put all six half-tonners and six 650-pound depth charges in the area indicated as a possible Army headquarters at Kieta.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-21 Kieta 0815 dr 6x1000 G.P.
                                            6x650 D.C.

Patrols Strafe Nips: The dusk patrol Monday was without incident, but two Piva Corsairs on Able search yesterday morning strafed three Japs south of Sorum on the northeast coast.
A pair of fighters also flew the Charlie search, and two flew the dusk patrol.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Dusk Patrol Jan. 22 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ-21 Able Search Jan. 23 1000 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ-21 Charlie Search Jan. 23 1000 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ-21 Dusk Patrol Jan. 23 No bombs.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 23

Beefsteak searches negative. Track and cover were 85/80 for Tare, 100/70 for Uncle and 50/100 for Victor. A small storm was encountered in the northeast corner of Tare sector.
Brewer searches were also negative. Track and cover was 100/90 for Able and 100/95 for Baker.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300 mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300 mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 25 January 1945.

18 Mitchells from Emirau crushed the personnel area at Pinikindu on the east coast of New Ireland. 102 quarter-ton bombs got good coverage, and strafing completed the attack.
Corsairs and Venturas from Green hit other points on central New Ireland with unobserved results. A storage area at Ratabu on the west coast took 3 1/4 tons. A Borpop personnel area was hit by another 5 3/4 tons. And Namatanai was blasted by a final 6 1/2 tons. Intense medium A/A from Namatanai holed two Venturas, wounding the navigator in one plane.

NEW IRELAND
(50 sorties - 51 1/4 tons)

Corsairs Bomb Stores At Ratabu: Eight fighters from Green hit this storage area near Bom on the west coast with 500 and 300 pounders. Twelve bombs hit the target area and four others undershot.
Results were not observed. The area was also strafed. No flak was encountered.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-14 Ratabu 0757 dr 8x500 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ-14 Ratabu 0757 dr 8x300 G.P.

Ack-Ack Wounds Navigator over Namatanai: On the opposite side of the island from Ratabu, four Venturas from Green unloaded six half-tonners and twenty-four 300-pounders on the personnel area at Namatanai. Results were not observed. Intense accurate medium A/A came from a known position in the target area. Meagre inaccurate light fire was noted from the east bank of Matakan River. Two planes were holed and one navigator wounded.

For the Record:

4 PVs NZ-2 Namatanai 0810 dr 6x1000 G.P.
                                             24x300 G.P.

Venturas Also Plaster Borpop: Three more Green Island PVs placed 5 half-tonners and eighteen 300-pounders on the personnel area at Borpop. One half-tonner was jettisoned at sea. Results were not seen. Meagre inaccurate light A/A came from a known position in the target area.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-2 Borpop 0807 dr 6x1000 G.P. 18x300 G.P.

Emirau Venturas Drop 4 1/2 Tons: The dusk PV Tuesday dropped six quarter-tonners at low level on the hutted area at Katharine Bay (east central coast). Half the bombs hit the target for unobserved results. The dawn PV on Wednesday put a similar load on the hutted area at the east end of Fatmilak Plantation, The truck recco later hit huts east of Roland Young Plantation with another half dozen quarter-tonners for unobserved results.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Sweep Jan. 23 1615-1915 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Sweep Jan. 24 0606-0910 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Truck Recco Jan. 24 1151-1414 dr 6x500 G.P.

Corsair Patrols Crater Road: Two fighters on Kavieng patrol Tuesday afternoon dive-bombed and possibly damaged a large house to the west of Kavieng runway with 2 quarter-tonners.
Two Corsairs yesterday morning bracketed a road with half-tonners and strafed plantation gardens at Lemakot.
Two planes returned early because of engine trouble and jettisoned their 4 bombs in the sea. Kavieng was patrolled during the day by eight fighters, five carrying a quarter-tonner each.
Bombing got two hits on the road by Balus Bridge, one hit the water near Kavieng Town, one was a dud and the fifth was jettisoned.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Jan. 23 1515-1830 dr 2x500 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ-22 Lemakot Jan. 24 0845 dr 8x1000 G.P.
8 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Jan. 24 0845-1545 dr 5x500 G.P. (1 dud).

NEW BRITAIN
(29 sorties-2 tons)

Four Fighters Bomb Gavit Plantation: A quartet of Corsairs dropped three half-tonners near a wooden Jetty by Gavit Plantation on the northwest coast of New Britain. One bomb was a dud.

For the Record:

4 F4Us NZ-16 Gavit Plantation dr 4x1000 G.P. (1 dud).

Patrols over Rabaul: The usual ship count was negative and no results were reported by the two dozen Corsairs flying over Rabaul yesterday. No heckler was scheduled for Tuesday night.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count No bombs.
24 F4Us NZ-14, 16 Rabaul Patrols 0710-1805 No bombs.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(28 sorties - 5 1/4 tons)

Mosigetta Huts Bombed: Twelve Piva Corsairs, led by tactical reconnaissance, hit a concentration of huts at Mosigetta yesterday morning with eight half-tonners and four 650-pound depth charges.
Eleven of the twelve bombs fell in the vicinity of this possible Jap headquarters.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-21 Mosigetta 0815 dr 8x1000 G.P.
                                                  4x650 D.C.

Searches and Patrols Note Activity: The dusk patrol Tuesday and the dawn patrol yesterday had nil sightings. Twelve fighters flew three Able and three Charlie searches in pairs. They strafed huts south of Teopasino, at Cape L'Averdy and Cape Nehus on the northeast coast, huts at Mako Mako on the central east coast, and eight huts (2 of which seemed camouflaged) near Koromira Mission on the southeast coast. They also strafed two Japs at Taki on the southeast coast. A possible barge hideout was observed 20 yards inshore from Tarongen on the northwest coast, and a stone jetty at Skotolan on southwest Buka. Foot-prints of about forty men showed in the sand near Cape Puipui on the east coast. A possible mine was seen in the large bay at Masamasa Island, and an apparent defence wall was noted on the peninsula at the south end of the bay.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Dusk Patrol Jan. 23 No bombs.
2 F4Us NZ-20 Dawn Patrol Jan. 24 No bombs.
12 F4Us NZ-20 Able and Charlie Searches No bombs.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 24
Beefsteak saw no Nips but encountered a local storm in the northeast bite of the Uncle pie. Track and cover were 100/100 for Tare, 80/90 for Uncle and 80/100 for Victor.
Brewer searches ran full track with full cover for Able, and 100/95 track and cover for Baker. Sightings: nil.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300-mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300-mile sectors.

[aircraftclocks]

Day Ending 0800 26 January 1945.

Twenty-five Marine Mitchells brought 38 tons of bombs from Emirau, and seven Mitchells plus seven Venturas carried 17 3/4 tons from Green. The whole shebang fell in a blanket of destruction on the plane park at Sulphur Creek. Two large columns of smoke were reported, but an accurate survey of damage was prevented by seven-tenths cloud cover.
Jap seamen had been reported living with natives on Pukpuk Island. A flight of sixteen Corsairs yesterday interrupted their housekeeping with 24 quarter-tonners and four half tonners. Flashes and smoke rose from the target, but no count of hut destruction was made.

NEW BRITAIN
(59 sorties - 59 tons)

Emirau and Green Coordinate Strike on Sulphur Creek: The plane park at Sulphur Creek was hit by a total of 56 tons from 39 Mitchells and Venturas.
Twenty-five Marine PBJs from Emirau dropped 25 half-tonners and 96 quarter-tonners from 12,000 feet thru 7/10 cover. Nine of these Mitchells put six half-tonners just east of the target.
Others fell nearby but could not be seen because of the clouds. However, two large smoke columns were reported. The quarter-tonners fell in a group 400 yards southeast and 2000 yards north in town.
One plane with a smoking engine jettisoned its six quarter-tonners and returned shortly after take-off.
Seven Marine PBJs loaded with 15 half-tonners, and seven Venturas carrying 8 half-tonners and 42 300-pounders, a few minutes later plastered the same plane park.
The Mitchells got 14 out of 15 on the target. The Venturas scored with 2 of the 8 half tonners and 16 of the 42 300-pounders. The remainder fell west of the target or in the sea. Moderate inaccurate medium A/A came from Hospital Ridge.

For the Record:

26 PBJs VMB-Emirau Sulphur Creek 1041 dr 25x1000 G.P.
                                                              102x500 G.P.
7 PBJs VMB-423 Sulphur Creek 1057 dr 15x1000 G.P.
7 PVs NZ-2 Sulphur Creek 1105 dr 8x1000 G.P.
                                                 42x300 G.P.

Patrols Crater Roadway: Seventeen Corsairs patrolled the Rabaul area yesterday. Five with half-tonners each tombed a personnel area at Kabanga Plantation. Two bombs cratered a roadway. The others fell unobserved. Other patrols, including the ship count, were negative.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-2 Rabaul Ship Count No bombs.
17 F4Us NZ-16 Rabaul Patrols 0705-1805 dr 5x1000 G.P.

BOUGAINVILLE-BUKA
(34 sorties-12 3/4 tons)

Troop Concentration Hit at Pukpuk: Sixteen fighters, led by tactical recco, poured eight tons on a naval personnel area at Pukpuk off the central east coast of Bougainville.
All four of the half-tonners hit the mark, and six of the twenty-four 500-pounders were in the target area. Several large flashes were noted, and quantities of smoke rose from the spot bombed.

For the Record:

12 F4Us NZ-21 Pukpuk 0845 dr 24x500 G.P.
4 F4Us NZ-21 Pukpuk 0845 dr 4x1000 G.P.

Aitara Bridges vs Quarter-Tonners: Eight Piva Corsairs dropped sixteen 500-pounders at two serviceable log bridges in the vicinity of Aitara Mission. Two bombs missed the first bridge by 20 yards, three by 40 and three more were ineffective. The other bridge received no near misses.

For the Record:

8 F4Us NZ-21 Aitara 1145 dr 16x500 G.P.

Searches and Patrols: Eight fighters, flying in pairs, did two Able and two Charlie searches yesterday. One plane dropped a half-tonner and a 650-pound depth charge on a hut at Rakururi, but did not hit it.
A life boat on the beach at the entrance to Porporo inlet was strafed. The dawn patrol Corsairs strafed and killed one Jap on the beach at Lakuruai on the southwest coast.
Fresh track activity was seen between Moila and Motupena Point.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-21 Dawn Patrol Jan. 24 No bombs,
8 F4Us NZ-21 Able and Charlie Searches dr 1x1000 G.P.
                                                               1x650 D.C.

NEW IRELAND
(17 sorties-13 tons)

Corsairs Crumple Two More Huts: Two fighters patrolling Kavieng Wednesday afternoon dive-bombed a truck near the strip, but both their quarter-tonners missed. Six fighters yesterday placed one quarter-tonner beside a Kavieng jetty, another in the Town area, two on gardens in the southeast part of Panapai, another which damaged six huts at Panapai, and the sixth bomb crushed two huts at Lauan Bay.

For the Record:

2 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol Jan. 24 1615-1800 dr 2x500 G.P.
6 F4Us NZ-22 Kavieng Patrol Jan. 25 0900-1545 dr 6x500 G.P.

Venturas Continue Huttacks: Carrying along with the plan to attack huts, Wednesday's dusk sweep dropped six quarter-tonners on the road and huts at Panatgin Plantation on the east central coast but results were unobserved. The dawn sweep yesterday hit Panaras huts at low level with six more 500-pounders. Damage was not observed, but three bombs were seen to be duds.
A flash of possible A/A came from the east side of Boi Island (off the coast by Roland Young Plantation). The truck recco low-leveled huts at Bolegila on the east coast but was unable to assess the damage done by its six quarter-tonners. Three Venturas placed 18 quarter-tonners on huts at Sicacui, but again results were not observed.

For the Record:

1 PV NZ-4 Dusk Sweep Jan. 24 1624-1922 dr 6x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Dawn Sweep Jan. 25 0640-0954 dr 6x500 G.P. (3 duds)
3 PVs NZ-4 Sicacui Jan. 25 1015 dr 18x500 G.P.
1 PV NZ-4 Truck Recco Jan. 25 1102-1306 dr 6x500 G.P.

SEARCHES FOR JANUARY 25
Beefsteak saw no enemy but encountered bad weather in the outer areas. Track and cover were 40/50 for Tare, 95/50 for Uncle and 75/100 for Victor.
Brewer Venturas saw nothing. Able went 200 miles and returned because of bad weather. Cover was 40%. Baker went only 120 miles because of engine trouble. Cover was 25%.

For the Record:

3 PVs NZ-4 Emirau 300-mile sectors.
2 PVs VPB-146 Admiralties 300-mile sectors.