Thursday, 1 July, 1943 In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and strafe
forces in the Duali area as nearby Allied troops consolidate positions
along the S arm of the Bitoi River; other A-20's strafe the Lae area; and
B-25's hit Kela Point and Logui. B-17's and B-24's bomb airfields at
Rabaul on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. The 431st
Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group transfers with P-38's from Charters
Towers, Queensland, Australia to Amberley Field, Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia. The squadron has yet to enter combat.
Friday, 2 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-25's pound defenses in the
Kela Point area and a trail near Logui while a lone B-24 bombs the
Salamaua area. The Allied invasion force (the MacKechnie Force) holds firm
a beachhead on Nassau Bay, and makes contact with Australian forces to the
N. B-17's and B-24's again attack airfields at Rabaul on New Britain
Island in the Bismrack Archipelago.
Saturday, 3 July, 1943 B-24's bomb airfields in the Rabaul, New
Britain Island area and hit Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. Koepang on
Timor Island is attacked by 2 B-25's. A lone B-17 bombs landing strip at
Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island.
Monday, 5 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-25's bomb and strafe the
airfield at Salamaua, Komiatum Track, and HQ areas at Kela and
Salamaua.
Tuesday, 6 July, 1943 B-25's attack the airfield at Penfoei on
Timor Island and hit Labu Lagoon area in New Guinea.
Wednesday, 7 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-24's and B-25's, along
with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airplanes, operate in direct
support of Allied ground operations in the Mubo area, dropping over 100
tons of bombs on numerous targets as the MacKechnie Force begins an
assault on Bitoi Ridge and Australian forces (2/6 Battalion) capture
Observation Hill, an important terrain feature West of Mubo.
Thursday, 8 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-25's continue to pound
enemy positions around Mubo and along the coast of Northeast New Guinea,
hitting Kela Point and village, Malolo, Buigap Creek, and trails from
Salamaua Airfield and Kennedy's Crossing to Logui. The 319th Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers with B-24's
from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Port Moresby, New
Guinea.
Friday, 9 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-25's hit forces in the
vicinity of Old Bobdubi, Malolo, and Busama. On Timor Island, B-25's hit
landing fields, Dili, and Cape Chater.
Saturday, 10 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-25's pound Salamaua,
Logui, and the Southeast bank of the Francisco River as Allied ground
forces effect junction at Buigap Creek cutting communications between
Salamaua and Mubo; a single B-24 bombs the village of Kela. B-24's bomb
Boela on Ceram Island in the Moluccas Islands and Babo, New Guinea.
Sunday, 11 July, 1943 In New Guinea, A-20's and B-25's blast
positions in the battle zone from Nassau Bay inland to the Mubo area,
hitting the trail ketween Logui and Kennedy's Crossing, the Bobdubi and
Bobdubi Ridge areas, Salamaua, Kela Point and villages scattered through
the area. Other B-25's bomb Penfoei on Timor Island. B-17's and B-24's
pound airfields in the Rabaul area on New Britain Island. The 19th
Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) transfers
with B-26's from Woodstock, Queensland, Australia to Dobodura, New Guinea.
The 19th, which has been in combat in the SWPA since April 1942, was
pulled out of combat in January 1943 for R&R. The squadron will fly
it's first combat mission on this tour on 27 July 1943.
Monday, 12 July, 1943 13 B-24's bomb airfields and the town area
in Rabaul, New Britain Island and vicinity. In the Moluccas Islands, 2
B-25's hit Lingat Air-field and Selaroe Island villages. A lone B-17 bombs
Garove Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.
Tuesday, 13 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-17's and B-24's,
operating individually, bomb the airfield, town area, harbor, and other
targets in the Lae area; B-25's blast positions in the Salamaua area,
along the road between Kela and MacDonald's Junction, and hit AA guns at
Salamaua and MacDonald's Junction; and ground forces clear the Mubo area
and Lababia Ridge of the enemy. HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group arrives at
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from the US.
Wednesday, 14 July, 1943 In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and
strafe the Orodubi area; and a single B-17 hits Lae. B-24's bomb Koepang
on Timor Island.
Thursday, 15 July, 1943 In New Guinea, A-20's hit positions
along the Orodubi-Komiatum Track.
Friday, 16 July, 1943 A single B-24 bombs forces at MacDonald's
Junction, New Guinea. Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airplanes hit
positions to the Southwest.
Saturday, 17 July, 1943 During the night of 17/l8 July,
B-25's bomb Lautem on Timor Island while B-24's bomb Adaoet Island in the
Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea during the day, B-25's pound the airfield,
Army HQ and defensive positions, and the general area in and around
Salamaua as Allied forces from the Nassau Bay-Mubo area begin a drive on
Salamaua; the drive is a secondary effort designed to divert enemy
attention from a subsequent Allied campaign to secure the Markham River
Valley and Huon Peninsula and thus gain control of Vitiaz Strait and
Dampier Strait.
Sunday, 18 July, 1943 During the night of 18/19 Jul, B-24's bomb
the harbor area at Makassar on Celebes Island. In New Guinea, several
B-25's, a B-24, and an A-20 bomb and strafe Lokanu, Boisi, Tambu
Peninsula, Dot Island, Salamaua, and Komiatum as US forces secure the S
headland of Tambu Bay for a supply base. Other B-25's attack barges and
shipping off New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago sinking a
small cargo vessel off Cape Kwoi.
Monday, 19 July, 1943 In New Guinea, a B-25 bombs a bridge over
the mouth of the Francisco River; a B-17 hits Finschhafen Airfield; and
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Bostons attack a gun position at
Komiatum and a military camp at Erskine Creek.
Tuesday, 20 July, 1943 In New Guinea US ground forces begin the
struggle for the heights commanding Tambu Bay and Dot Inlet; A-20's and
B-25's pound Madang Airfield and area, the Komiatum, Logui, areas along
the Gum River and South of the Gogol River, the Gori River bridge area,
and Bogadjim. On Timor Island, B-25's bomb Lautem, Dili, and Cape Chater
Airfield. A single B-24 bombs Arawe on New Britain Island.
Wednesday, 21 July, 1943 In New Guinea, more than 50 B-25's
again thoroughly pound the Madang area; other B-25's hit the junction of
the Gori and Ioworo Rivers and the village of Bogadjim; and B-26's bomb
barges and jetties W of Voco Point. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen
Airfield, New Guinea and the town of Rabaul on New Britain Island in the
Bismarck Archipelago. The 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, Fifth Air Force,
arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with C-47's. The squadron
will begin aerial transportation in the theater on 27 July.
Thursday, 22 July, 1943 In New Guinea, more than 50 B-24's,
B-25's, and B-26's blast troops, AA guns, defensive positions, and targets
of opportunity in the battle zones at Komiatum, on Komiatum Ridge, at Kela
Mountain, at Salamaua, and along trails near Komiatum and Salamaua. B-24's
bomb an oil refinery, docks, and railroad yards at Soerabaja, Java. B-25's
hit targets of opportunity on Selaroe Island in the Moloccas Islands.
Friday, 23 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-25's, B-26's, B-24's, and
B-17's again pound targets in coastal NE New Guinea, hitting Malolo,
Asini, Busama, Voco Point, and Salamaua, blasting barges from Hanisch
Harbor to Wald Bay and Cape Busching, and thoroughly bomb Bogadjim.
Saturday, 24 July, 1943 B-25's bomb Lautem, Fuiloro, Koepang, and
Tenau on Timor Island, the airfield and surrounding areas at Lae, New
Guinea, and attack barges in the Wapelik and Cape Busching area of New
Britain Island and villages on the Itni River on New Britain.
Sunday, 25 July, 1943 Single B-24's attack a large transport
vessel West-Northwest of Buka Passage in the Solomon Islands and bomb
Lingat and Adaoet Islands in the Moluccas Islands, and the area near
Finschhafen, New Guinea.
Monday, 26 July, 1943 In New Guinea more than 40 B-24's and
B-17's bomb Salamaua, Malolo Mission, Komiatum, Komiatum Ridge, and Lae
Airfield. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, Fifth Air Force, arrives at
Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with C-47's. The squadron flies it's
first mission upon arrival.
Tuesday, 27 July, 1943 In New Guinea, 35 B-25's and 18 B-24's
pound the Salamaua area in one of the largest single-strike attacks of
Southwest Pacific Area. Airfield and supply storage at Salamaua, the town
of Kela and nearby hilltop positions, and defensive positions between the
road and beach at Logui are hit; 5 other B-25's hit barges between Pommern
Bay and Finschhafen, and the concentration and supply area at Voco Point;
a lone B-24 on armored reconnaissance bombs targets of opportunity on
Mundua and Unea Islands.
Wednesday, 28 July, 1943 On New Britain Island in the
Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's attack barges and fuel dump between Cape
Raoult and Rein Bay and hit the airfield at Cape Gloucester and 2
destroyers offshore; single B-24's bomb Unea Island and unsuccessfully
attack shipping in Saint George Channel between New Ireland and New
Britain Islands. In New Guinea, B-24's bomb Manokwari and Larat and Boela
on Ceram Island in the Moluccas Islands. On Timor Island, B-25's hit the
town of Lautem and the airfield at Cape Chater.
Thursday, 29 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-17's, B-24's, and
B-25's bomb Kela Point and village, and Salamaua town and peninsula area.
On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's, B-26's, and a
B-24 attack Army HQ, barges, and villages in the Natamo vicinity, shipping
off Cape Gloucester, Borgen Bay, along the coast from Ring Ring Plantation
to Roebuck Point and barges off Cape Dampier, New Guinea. P-40's strafe
targets of opportunity.
Friday, 30 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-24's bomb Salamaua and
Kela; B-25's hit barges off Huon Peninsula and villages in the Finschhafen
area; and A-20's destroy several barges at Hanisch Harbor and Langemak
Bay. Single B-24's bomb Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island and Unea
Island.
Saturday, 31 July, 1943 In New Guinea, B-25's hit the
Finschhafen area and barges at Hanisch Harbor and Mange. B-25's and A-20's
blast several barges in the Cape Gloucester area of New Britain Island.
B-24's bomb Waingapoe on Sumba Island in the Sunda Islands. HQ 375th Troop
Carrier Group transfers from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to Port
Moresby, New Guinea.
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