Japanese missions against Rabaul
January 4, 1942–January 23, 1942

January 4, 1942
(IJN) Japanese flying boats first bomb Rabaul. On the ground, two civilians are killed and 15 locals at the Rapindik Labour Compound.

January 20, 1942
(IJN) JJapanese aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Zuikaku and Shōkaku under the command of Admiral Nagumo launch a carrier planes for a strike against Rabaul and Kavieng in preparation for an amphibious assaults against each location. Akagi launches 20 x B5N1 Kates led by Commander Murata Shigeharu aboard as an observer escorted by 9 x A6M2 Zeros. Kaga launches 27 x B5N1 Katess escorted by 9 x A6M2 Zeros. Zuikaku launches 19 D3A1 Vals escorted by 6 A6M2 Zeros without loss. Shōkaku launches 19 D3A1 Vals without loss. The only loss was B5N1 Kate pilot Sugihara shot down by anti-aircraft fire that crashed atop Mount Kombiu (Mother). At Kavieng, dive bombers strike Kavieng Airfield and Kavieng wharf while escorting A6M2 Zeros strafed Induna Star docked at Government wharf in Kavieng Harbor.

January 22, 1942
(IJN) Japanese carrier planes strike Rabaul, but find few targets and instead perform aerobatics over the area.

January 23, 1942
(IJA) After midnight, the 144th Infantry Regiment "South Seas Detachment" lands at several locations: Raluana Point and to the west of Kokopo and Kerawun and north of Vulcan. Also Malaguna, west of Praed Point and Nordup. Defending were the outnumbered Australian Army 2/22nd Battalion and New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR). By morning, the Japanese have occupied Rabaul.

Allied missions against Rabaul
February 3, 1942–June 21, 1945

February 3, 1942
(RAAF) Five Catalinas bomb Japanese ships in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Damaged are Catalina A24-3 and Catalina A24-5. Cruisers and transports were observed and attacked with a possible direct hit and several near misses claimed on one large vessel northwest of Dawapia Rocks (The Beehives).

February 22, 1942
(RAAF) During the early morning, Catalinas bomb Rabaul.

Februray 23, 1942
(5th AF) First American bombing mission against Rabaul.  A group of four B-17s took off from Townsville before midnight on February 22, 1942 an overnight flight arriving arriving February 23, 1942 at dawn to bomb Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor near Rabaul. Inbound, they experience bad weather that broke up the formation with the B-17s flying individually to the target area with B-17 pilot Speith aborting due to bad weather. Only two B-17s manage to bomb the target, and all are intercepted by Japanese fighters from the 4th Kōkūtai (4th Air Group). Returning, B-17E 41-2446 (aka "Swamp Ghost') runs out of fuel and force lands into Agaiambo Swamp in northern New Guinea. The other B-17s land at 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby to refuel then is returns to Garbutt Field.

February 24, 1942
(RAAF) Three flyingboats: Catalina A24-2, Catalinas A24-17 and Catalinas A24-13 took off from Port Moresby Flying Boat Base on a bombing mission against Rabaul. Lost is Catalina A24-13 (MIA).

March 2, 1942
(RAAF) Hudson A16-101 performs a high altitude reconnaissance mission over Rabaul and encounters heavy anti-aircraft fire over Simpson Harbor.

March 13, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s and B-26s hit shipping and the airfield at Rabaul.

April 11, 1942
(5th AF) B-26 from 22nd BG bomb Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Returning, B-26 40-1418 pilot 2nd Lt Louis "Tad" W. Ford force lands near the north coast of New Guinea.

April 18, 1942
(5th AF) Six B-26s from 22nd BG take off on a bombing mission against Rabaul, three abort due to bad weather before reaching the target. Over the target, B-26 40-1486 bombed Lakunai Airfield while the other two B-26s attacked shipping in Simpson Harbor. During the attack, B-26 "Shittenengitten" 40-1404 scored a single 500 pound bomb hit on Komaki Maru. The other bomber, B-26 40-1400 arrived late over the target and was intercepted by a pair of A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai and damaged in the left engine and crashed near shore. Two crew bailed out and were taken prisoner.

April 19, 1942
(5th AF) Seven B-26s from the 22nd BG bomb Rabaul.

April 23, 1942
(5th AF) Seven B-26s from 22nd BG bomb Rabaul.

April 25, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s strike Rabaul. Lost is B-17E 41-2505 (MIA) crashed into Mount Obree.

May 14, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s, B-26s from 22nd BG bomb Rabaul.

May 27, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb Rabaul.

June 1, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb Rabaul.

June 2, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb the dock and military camp area at Rabaul.

June 3, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s hit the wharf, warehouse area, and military camp at Rabaul.

June 5, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s hit wharves, a warehouse, and coal jetty at Rabaul.

June 10, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb aircraft and buildings at Rabaul.

PARTIAL LIST

October 23, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb shipping off Rabaul. A B-17 from the 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) bombs Rabaul from 5,000 to 8,500' then drop down to 400' to perform the first "skip bombing" and claim hits on four vessels that are claimed as sunk. In fact, they hit two subchasers.

PARTIAL LIST

December 6, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb Rabaul town.

PARTIAL LIST

February 23, 1943
(5th AF) B-17s bomb Rabaul Town and Simpson Harbor area. Over the target, B-17F "Georgia Peach" 41-24454 was caught in searchlights and dived steeply to escape the beam. Incorrectly believing the bomber was hit and going down, tail gunner Pfc Arthur Mirarchi, 12029834 bailed out and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) and did not survive captivity.

PARTIAL LIST

July 11, 1943
(5th AF) B-17's and B-24's pound airfields in the Rabaul area. Returning caught in a violent storm, B-17F "Black Jack" 41-24521 (crew survived) ditched.

PARTIAL LIST

October 12, 1943
(5th AF, RAAF) Allied aircraft begin a major air offensive against Rabaul, with the aim of isolating and neutralizing it. Almost 350 B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and RAAF airplanes pound the town, harbor, and airfields in the area, including the first parafag bomb attack on Vunakanau Airfield. The Allies calim 50+ Japanese aircraft destroyed and three ships are sunk and several damaged plus several small harbor craft are sunk. Lost are B-25D 41-30239 (MIA, BR), B-24D 42-40675 (crew rescued) and Beufighter A19-97 (MIA / BR).

Afterwards, USN codebreakers intercept a radio message about the air raid “Southeastern Force Action Summary. (October 12th Rabaul Air Action). ----. Attacked from 1004 to 1022 by: 54 (Heavy bombers in 9 waves of three to ten planes covered by about 16 P-38s attacked vessels and Rabaul airdrome vicinity. ------. Losses. (a) Vessels Tsukushi and Naruto hit: slight damage and holes in hull. Mochizuki, damaged by near misses and holes. Gun #3 inoperative. Miyatzuki [sic Minazuki], #2 ---- slight damage from near miss. Guns #1 and #2 out of commission. Tachikaze, ----- damage. I-180, as a result of a 60 kilo bomb hit unable to dive. I-177 and RO-105, holes from near misses.”

IJN: Due to the American air raid at Rabaul sunk is Keisho Maru, seatrucks Wakamatsu Maru No. 1, Kurogane Maru and gunboat Mishima Maru. Damaged are destroyers Mochizuki, Minazuki and Tachikaze, I-177, I-180, RO-105, shecial service ship Tsukushi, Tenryu Maru, Koan Maru and Naruto. During the American air raid on Rabaul, I-36, I-38, I-176 and RO-108 suberge and avoid damage.

PARTIAL LIST

October 25, 1943
(5th AF) After midnight, thirteen B-17s bomb shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul.

PARTIAL LIST

January 2, 1944
(13th AF) 30+ Allied fighters sweep Rabaul area claiming 11 airplanes shot down; 1 US Navy (USN) fighter is lost.

January 3, 1944
(13th AF) 30+ Allied fighters sweep the Rabaul area claiming 6 Zekes shot down.
(USN, USMC) A formation of 46 fighters, including 8 F4Us from VMF-214 led by Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, 12 F4Us from VMF-211 and 16 F6F from VF-33 over Rabaul for a fighter sweep, flying between 20,000 ' to 24,000' they spot Zeros below, and dive to intercept, ikely 29 Zeros from 253 Kokutai. Already airborne, 27 Zeros of the 204 Kokutai, join the dog fight. Lost is F4U 17915 pilot Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (MIA, POW) and his wingman F4U 02723 pilot Captain George M. Ashmun (MIA).

January 4, 1944
(13th AF) 40+ Allied fighters attack the Rabaul area and claim at least ten airplanes shot down.

January 6, 1944
(13th AF) P-38's sweep the Rabaul area claiming 9 Zekes shot down during a running battle over the Cape Gazelle area.

January 12, 1944
(13th AF) 13 B-25's of the 42d Bombardment Group on their first mission against the Rabaul area in the early morning.

January 9, 1944
(13th AF) A P-70 piloted by Lukas departed, radar 2nd Lt. Blankenship and S/Sgt Glen DeForrest took off from Guadalcanal via Munda and Torokina, taking off at 22:00 for a night single plane mission against Rabaul. The P-70 dropps two 100 lbs incendiaries and four 100lbs high explosives on the target: the dock, fuel dump and 'Australian House'. After hitting the target the P-70 returns via Cape St. George and strafe the radar station, tents and anti-aircraft positions and made four strafing passes. The P-70 returned to Torokina at 2:00am.
References: "The First Solo Low-Altitude Night Raid on Rabaul" by Terry M. Mays, WWII Quarterly Vol 4, No. 1.

January 14, 1944
(13th AF) During the night of 13/14 Jan, 15 B-24's take off to bomb Rabaul just before dawn. Some meet bad weather and bomb alternate targets on New Ireland and Buka instead.

January 17, 1944
AAF and US fighters support 48 SBDs and 18 TBFs attacking shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul; they claim 18 Japanese airplanes; Kanshin Maru is sunk. 10 Allied fighters are lost. Japanese Zeros from the 204th Kokutai at Lakunai Airfield and 16 Zeros from the 252 Kokutai at Tobera Airfield intercept. Lost are eight P-38s from the 339th FS and 44th FS that claim six victories and five probables. Lost are P-38J piloted by Munson (MIA), P-38J 42-67785 (MIA), P-38J 42-67179 (MIA), P-38J 42-67611 (MIA), P-38H 42-66680 (MIA), P-38H 42-66897 (rescued), P-38J 42-67171 (MIA), F6F 26031 (MIA), SBD-5 28316 (MIA) and TBF-1C 24363 (MIA). Damaged are TBF-1 24489 and SBD-5 35933. Also lost is F-5A 42-12984 (survived). During the night of 17/18 Jan, a few B-24's, in two flights, bomb the Rabaul area.

PARTIAL LIST

April 2, 1944
(13th AF) 40+ fighter-bombers over Rabaul hit the SE part of Rabaul, the Toboi wharf area, and northern section of Rabaul along the Malaguna Road.

April 4, 1944
(13th AF) Ten B-25s are rained out of Rabaul.

PARTIAL LIST

April 16, 1944
(13th AF) 30+ fighter-bombers attack area inland from Toboi Wharf at Rabaul.

PARTIAL LIST

June 26, 1944
(13th AF) AAF and other Allied aircraft hit airfields, AA positions, and other targets in the Rabaul

June 27, 1944
(13th AF) Fighters and bombers join other Allied aircraft from the Solomon in bomb targets in the Rabaul area.

PARTIAL LIST

October 26, 1944
(USN) Special Task Air Group One (STAG-1) launched four drones against Rabaul. Two drones hit buildings close to their targets. One crashed into the sea off the southwest tip of Duke of York Island. The fourth diverted to Cape St. George.

PARTIAL LIST

January 30, 1945
(RNZAF) Fighter sweeps against Rabaul. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5415 pilot Flying Officer Owen Walton Davies (KIA).

June 21, 1945
(RNZAF) Fighters attack Rabaul area. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5402 pilot F/Sgt Ronald C. Warren (POW, survived).