September, 1943

Thursday, 2 September, 1943
B-25's, with P-38 escort, attack shipping at Wewak, New Guinea harbor, claiming 1 vessel sunk and 2 left aflame; 10 enemy interceptors are claimed destroyed; barrage balloons offer some protection to the enemy ships. This is first AAF observation of Japanese use of such balloons in the Southwest Pacific Area.

Friday, 3 September, 1943
Heavy and medium bombers blast gun emplacements and terrace defenses in the Lae, New Guinea area. Other heavy bombers hit the Cape Gloucester area on New Britain Island. Light raids are flown against targets on Ceram Island in the Moluccas Islands and Timor Island in the Sunda Islands.

Saturday, 4 September, 1943
In New Guinea, the Allied offensive against Lae begins as forces land at Hopoi and the mouth of the Buso River; B-24's support the landings by pounding Lae airfield, B-25's hit the Hopoi area and bomb the airfield at Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island; A-20's and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) planes hit the airfield on Gasmata Island off New Britain Island; supporting P-38's intercept more than 100 enemy fighters and bombers, which are airborne despite the attacks on airfields, and claim 20 shot down.

Sunday, 5 September, 1943
In New Guinea, 82 C-47'S drop paratroops at Nadzab Airfield (first such landings in the Southwest Pacific Area) following bombardment of the drop zone by 52 medium bombers and pounding of Lae Airfield by 24 heavy bombers; a smoke screen is laid over the landing area by A-20's; Nadzab Airfield is quickly put into operational condition and will subsequently become a major Allied airbase.

Monday, 6 September, 1943
In New Guinea, heavy bombers pound Lae Airfield and surrounding area, and medium bombers bomb and strafe enemy defenses in Malahang and vicinity, as Allied ground forces push toward Lae; US fighters claim 8 enemy aircraft downed over Lae. B-25's fly a sweep against barges along the coast of New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago and bomb targets on Timor Island in the Sunda Islands.

Tuesday, 7 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's and B-26's bomb the Lae area; B-25's bomb and strafe nearby targets on road to Markham; P-38's successfully turn back enemy bombing attack on Morobe; and C-47's begin flying the Australian 7 Division to Nadzab. A-20's hit Gasmata Island area off New Britain Island. The 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, arrives at Townsville, Queensland, Australia from the US with C-47's.

Wednesday, 8 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-17's, B-24's, B-25's and B-26's pound the Lae area, and A-20's hit Salamaua. The Japanese at Salamaua are ordered to prepare to fall back to Lae in face of the approaching Australian 5 Division. Elements of the Australian 9 Division, moving West on Lae, reach the flooded Busu River where the Japanese hold the West bank. Other heavy and medium bombers carry out light raids on targets in West part of New Guinea and in islands of Netherlands East Indies.

Thursday, 9 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's bomb and strafe coastal area from Alexishafen to Finschhafen and hit points on New Britain coast. Heavy bombers attack Garove Island off New Britain Island. Selaroe Island in the Tanibar Islands is hit by a light medium bombers strike.

Friday, 10 September, 1943
B-25's attack barges along the New Britain coast. In New Guinea, the Australian 7 Division, having been flown to Nadzab in C-47's, begins a push East toward Lae.

Saturday, 11 September, 1943
B-24's bomb Makassar on Celebes Island. In New Guinea, Australian forces cross the Francisco River to Salamaua airfield as Japanese forces draw toward Lae.

Sunday, 12 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-17's and B-24's pound Lae as the Japanese begin a withdrawal in the face of the Australian 9 and 7 Divisions moving in from East and West; the Australian 5 Division occupies Salamaua and surrounding area; the first Allied airplane lands at Salamaua airfield; and B-25's strafe between Saidor and Langemak Bay. B-25's hit barges near Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island, and A-20's bomb a radio station on Gasmata Island off the coast of New Britain Island.

Monday, 13 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's escorted by P-38's, bomb airfields and ammunition dumps in the Wewak area; and B-25's hit Lae.

Tuesday, 14 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's attack Lae and barges in Hansa Bay; B-24's bomb Kendari on Celebes Island. The detachment of the 6th Nighter Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, which has been operating from New Guinea since 18 Apr with P-70's, begins a movement back to it's base at Kipapa, Territory of Hawaii.

Wednesday, 15 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's, with P-38 escort, bomb airfields in the Wewak area, destroying 10 enemy aircraft on the ground; 14 more are claimed destroyed in air combat. B-17's bomb the Lae area; and B-25's sink about 15 barges between Alexishafen and Finschhafen, blast an ammunition and supply dump near Bogadjim, and attack AA positions at Bostrem Bay.

Thursday, 16 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-17's, B-26's, B-25's, and A-20's pound enemy positions at Lae after which the airfield and town (evacuated by Japanese) are occupied by Australian forces; B-24's carry out a light strike on Sorong.

Friday, 17 September, 1943
B-25's carry out a coastal sweep against barges and villages from Reiss Point to Langemak Bay, New Guinea.

Saturday, 18 September, 1943
In New Guinea, A-20's hit Tami Island in the Lae area; B-26's and RAAF airplanes bomb and strafe Finschhafen. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, based at Port Moresby begins operating from Tsili Tsili, New Guinea with C-47's.

Sunday, 19 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's and B-26's pound Finschhafen in preparation for Allied landings on 22 Sep. B-17's and B-24's bomb the airfield and surrounding area at Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island. B-24's and B-25's fly small strikes against Amboina Island in the Moluccas Islands, Selaroe Island in the Tanimbar Islands, and Penfoei on Timor Island.

Monday, 20 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's and B-17's hit roads from Kaiapit to Madang, destroying 3 key bridges; P-39's strafe and dive-bomb the Bogadjim-Yaula area; and B-24's bomb Wewak and Boram airfields. B-25's hit Penfoei on Timor Island.

Tuesday, 21 September, 1943
In New Guinea, A-20's, B-26's, and RAAF aircraft hit Tami Island and pound Finschhafen in preparation for the Allied amphibious assault on the following day; B-25's bomb and strafe the Bogadjim area and Langgoer. On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24's hit Cape Gloucester and a freighter near Talasea; A-20's and RAAF aircraft bomb Gasmata Island off New Britain Island. The 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Townsville, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea with C-47's.

Wednesday, 22 September, 1943
In New Guinea, after a preparatory naval bombardment, elements of the Australian 9 Division land at the mouth of the Song River N of Finschhafen and push to the S; B-25's pound defenses in the Finschhafen area; almost 90 fighters battle Japanese aircraft attacking the convoy; 38 enemy aircraft are claimed shot down. A-20's and B-25's hit the Lae area. B-24's and B-25's bomb the airfield on Gasmata Island off New Britain Island; and B-24 hit Amboina Island in the Moluccas Islands.

Thursday, 23 September, 1943
B-25's bomb and strafe villages in the upper Markham River Valley of New Guinea. P-40's bomb Gasmata Island off New Britain Island.

Friday, 24 September, 1943
B-24's fly a small strike against Sorong and Manokwari, New Guinea.

Saturday, 25 September, 1943
In New Guinea, nearly 40 B-17's, B-24's, and B-25's bomb installations and supply lines from Bogadjim to villages on the Ramu and Markham Rivers; A-20's and RAAF airplanes pound positions near Finschhafen as the Australian 9 Division, having crossed the Buni River the previous day, pushes South toward the town. B-25's bomb and strafe AA positions at Rein Bay on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. The 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, transfers from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with C-47's.

Sunday, 26 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's bomb But and Dagua Airfields; P-38's claim 9 enemy fighters shot down in the But-Dagua-Wewak areas; other B-24's hit Nubia and Potsdam Plantations.

Monday, 27 September, 1943
In New Guinea, 117 B-24's and B-25's, escorted by 129 P-38's and P-40's, attack airfields and shipping in the Wewak area; about 40 aircraft are destroyed on the ground and 8 are claimed shot down in combat; the bombers claim 10 ships (totaling about 28,000 tons), 11 luggers, and a launch sunk; Finschhafen is bombed twice during the day.

Tuesday, 28 September, 1943
In New Guinea, the Wewak area is again hit, the 40 attacking B-24's being escorted by 29 P-38's which claim 8 fighters shot down; A-20's and RAAF Vengeances attack the Finschhafen and Lae area; B-24's and P-39's hit a road near Bogadjim. The 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Archerfield, Queensland, Australia with C-47's. The 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Archerfield to Port Moresby with C-47's.

Wednesday, 29 September, 1943
B-24's on armed reconnaissance attack scattered shipping in the Netherlands East Indies and Solomon and Bismarck Seas.

Thursday, 30 September, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's and B-25's fly light raids against Boela on Ceram Island in the Moluccas Islands; Sorong, New Guinea; and Manatuto on Timor Island. HQ 317th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Townsville, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

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