American Missions Against Cape Glouchester

December 23, 1942
(5th AF) B-25s bomb Cape Gloucester Airfield. B-24s carry out single-bomber attacks on Cape Gloucester Airfield.

December 25, 1942
(5th AF) B-24 attacks runways at Cape Gloucester Airfield

December 26, 1942
(5th AF) Heavy bombers carry out single-bomber attacks against Cape Gloucester Airfield

January 15, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s carry out single-plane attacks on the runway at Cape Gloucester

January 20, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s, operating singly, attack Cape Gloucester

January 24, 1943
(5th AF) Single B-24s attack runways at Cape Gloucester

January 25, 1943
(5th AF) Single B-24s attack runways at Cape Gloucester.

January 26, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s carry out individual attacks on the runways at Cape Gloucester

January 29, 1943
(5th AF) Single B-24s bomb runways at Cape Gloucester

January 31, 1943
(5th AF) Single B-24 bombs the runway at Cape Gloucester

February 1, 1943
(5th AF) A lone B-24 bombs the runway at Cape Gloucester

February 3, 1943
(5th AF) B-17s and B-24s attack the airfield at Cape Gloucester.

February 4, 1943
(5th AF) Heavy bombers hit the airfield at Cape Gloucester

February 12, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s, operating individually, attack the runway at Cape Gloucester

February 18, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s unsuccessfully attack shipping off Cape Gloucester

February 19, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s carry out single-plane attacks agains shipping off Cape Gloucester

March 4, 1943
(5th AF) B-17s attack power launches off Cape Gloucester.

 

PARTIAL LIST

 

November 22, 1943
100+ B-25's and B-24's bomb Gasmata south of New Britain and Cape Gloucester

 

PARTIAL LIST

 

December 21, 1943
(5th AF) Pre-invasion air strikes continue against Cape Gloucester as 100+ B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's pound the area

December 22, 1943
(5th AF) 30+ B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's continue bombardment of Cape Gloucester

December 23, 1943
(5th AF) 61 B-24's bomb Cape Gloucester during the day; B-24's follow during the night of 23/24 Dec with harassing attacks with small bombs, hand grenades, and beer bottles

December 24, 1943
(5th AF) The pre-invasion bombing effort against Cape Gloucester reaches its peak as nearly 190 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's pound the area in a day-long bombardment

December 25, 1943
(5th AF) Cape Gloucester is subjected to almost around the clock air attacks by l80+ B-24's, B-25's, B-26's, and A-20's

December 26, 1943
(5th AF) The US 1st Marine Division lands at Cape Gloucester at 0746 hours; 270+ B-25's. B-24's, and A-20's plaster the area between the Cape and Borgen Bay from 0714 to l614 hours; enemy aircraft attacking the landing force sink a destroyer and cause considerable damage to other ships, P-38's, P-40's, and P-47's claim 60+ airplanes shot down over the invasion area. Lost is A6M2 Zero 8224.

December 27, 1943
(5th AF) A-20's attack positions in the Cape Gloucester battle zone

December 29, 1943
(5th AF) 120+ B-24's, B-25's, and B-26's pound positions at Cape Gloucester as the US Marines take the major objective, the airfield.

December 30, 1943
(5th AF) A-20's hit positions in the Cape Gloucester area as US Marines completely secure the airfield.

December 31, 1943
(5th AF) A-20's hit troop concentrations in the Cape Gloucester area

January 1, 1944
(5th AF) A-20's continue to hit troop concentrations in the Cape Gloucester area

January 4, 1944
(5th AF) B-25's attack artillery positions in the Cape Gloucester area.

January 7, 1944
(5th AF) B-24's bomb the Cape Gloucester area

January 8, 1944
(5th AF) Fighters strafe the Sag Sag sawmill in the Cape Gloucester area

January 28, 1944
(5th AF) A-20's attack in the Cape Gloucester area

January 29, 1944
(5th AF) 45 A-20's hit positions in the Cape Gloucester area.