December 17, 1942
January 5, 1943
c1943
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Location
Anchorage was in the narrow Tuha Channel, between Shortland Poporang and Faisi, with shore facilities on each island. The Japanese called it 'Shortland Island' or 'Shi-you-to-ran-do Shima'. This base
had several names in Allied reports, including Shortlands
Sea Plane Base and Faisi Seaplane Base.
Japanese Usage
Known to the Japanese as "Shortland Hakuchi". Occupied by the Japanese in early 1942 and developed into a seaplane base using the narrow east-west Tuha Channel as a take off and landing area, varying directions depending on winds. The harbor included moorings
and shore facilities.
Units based at Shortland Harbor
R-Area Air Force (Homen Koku Butai) August 28, 1942 - April 1, 1943
851st Kokutai (H6K5 Mavis) September 42 - March 43
802nd Ku (Pete, Rufe) tail N1 January - March 1943 to Marshals
958th Kokutai (Pete, Jake) Rabaul Nov 42 - Aug 43 Rabaul
No.11 SF Kamikawa Maru & Kunikawa Maru (A6M2-N, Pete Jake) Aug -
March 1, 1943 to Rabaul/Kavieng became 938th Ku in early 1943 (tail code L1- and L-2)
R-Area Air Force
IJN Eighth Fleet Headquarters at Bougainville
established on August 28, 1942 the "R-Area Air Force" (Homen Koku Butai) with seaplanes
in the Shortland area, with a forward base at Rekata
Seaplane Base. Commanded by RAdm. Jojima Takatsuga, the CO of the Eleventh
Seaplane Tender Division, formed the squadrons of four seaplane
tenders into two hikokitai (ad hoc air groups). These two hikokitai
aircraft, which would eventually be expanded and combined to
become the IJN Eleventh Ku, were equipped with three types
of aircraft: Aichi E13A1 Type
0 (Jake), Mitsubishi F1M2 Type 0 (Pete)
and Nakajima A6M2-N Type 2 (Rufe). Developed because of
the lack of suitable land bases after the loss of
Munda. From September 4 - November 7, 1942 the unit flew 360 sorties in 211 separate missions claiming 14 victories and one probable for the loss of 9 of its pilots.
Missions
Against Shortland
(USN, 5th AF, 13th AF) October 16, 1942 - December 1943
- May 15, 1944
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April 11, 1943
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