Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
American missions against Buin
October 16, 1942–July 22, 1943

October 16, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s bomb the airfield at Buin.
(USN) Planes hit targets in the Buin-Tonolei area.

October 18, 1942
(13th AF) B-17s attack Buin

October 29, 1942
(13th AF) B-17s bomb harbor and shipping in the Buin-Faisi area.

October 31, 1942
(13th AF) B-17s bomb shipping in the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai area.

November 1, 1942
(13th AF) B-17s strike shipping in the Buin-Faisi

November 11, 1942
(13th AF) Search aircraft from Guadalcanal report at least sixty-one Japanese ships in the Buin-Tonolai area.

November 15, 1942
(13th AF) Other B-24s bomb the Buin-Fasai area.

November 24, 1942
(13th AF) Search aircraft over the Buin area report a large number of destroyers and cargo vessels in the harbor.

December 14, 1942
(13th AF) B-17s attack Buin with no losses.

January 5, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s with P-38 escort attack a cruiser at Buin. They are met by twenty-five Zekes and float biplanes; three Japanese aircraft are shot down for the loss of two P-38s.

January 16, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s bomb the Buin-Faisi area.

February 13, 1943
(13th AF) Nine PB4Ys of VP-51 escorted by 4 P-38s and 11 F4Us of VMF-124 and 6 B-24s escorted by 4 P-38s and 7 P-40s of the 18th FG, 44th FS. Take off on separate missions to hit shipping in the Shortland-Kahilli-Buin area.

February 14, 1943
(13th AF) Nine PB4Y-1 Liberators from VB-101, each armed with a single 1,000 lbs bomb bomb shipping in the Buin-Shortland area.

February 19, 1943
(13th AF) B-17s bomb shipping and a seaplane base between Buin and Faisi.
(5th AF) Bombers hit the Buin area.

February 20, 1943
(5th AF) Bombers hit the Buin area.

March 20, 1943
(USN, USMC) During the night of 19/20 March, forty-two Navy and Marine aircraft lay mines off Bougainville in the Buin-Tonolai area.

March 29, 1943
(13th AF) B-17's and B-24's pound Buin.

April 29, 1943
(13th AF) Lost on an escort mission over Buin is P-38G Lightning 43-2218.

May 23, 1943
(13th AF) Other aircraft are successfully laying mines off the Buin area. B-17's and B-24's, in a diversionary raid, bomb the Buin-Kahili-Tonolai shoreline area.

June 5, 1943
(13th AF) In the early morning, a formation of B-17s bombed Japanese installations at Kahili and Buin area in conjunction with a USN raid.

June 6, 1943
(13th AF, USN, USMC) P-38's, P-40's, and Navy and Marine fighters and dive bombers attack shipping off Buin scoring damaging hits on a destroyer and two smaller vessels; Fifteen Japanese airplanes are claimed shot down.

June 26, 1943
(13th AF, USN, USMC) During the night of 25/26 Jun, B-24 bomb Buin area.

July 5, 1943
(13th AF) Nine B-24's over Buin fail to find shipping and bomb alternate targets instead.

July 9, 1943
(13th AF) During the night of 8/9 Jul, B-24's bomb Buin.

July 16, 1943
(13th AF) In the Buin-Faisi area, seven B-24's join 70+ US Navy dive bombers and 100+ USAAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), US Navy, and US Marine Corps fighters in an attack on shipping.

July 17, 1943
(13th AF) Seven B-24's and 70+ US Navy and Marine Corps airplanes, escorted by 100+ USAAF and Allied fighters, attack shipping off Buin.

July 22, 1943
(13th AF) 20+ B-17's and B-24's, 40+ US Navy dive bombers, and 100+ Allied fighter aircraft attack shipping in the area off Buin.

June 26, 1943
(13th AF) During the night of 25/26 Jun, B-24's bomb the Poporang-Buin-Faisi area.

July 5, 1943
(13th AF) Nine B-24's over Buin fail to find shipping and bomb alternate targets.

July 9, 1943
(13th AF) During the night of 8/9 Jul, B-24's bomb Buin.

July 16, 1943
(13th AF, USN, RNZAF, USMC) In the Buin-Faisi area, seven B-24's join 70+ US Navy dive bombers and 100+ USAAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), US Navy, and US Marine Corps fighters in an attack on shipping. Allied airplanes claim 40+ aircraft destroyed or damaged; 7 vessels, including a destroyer, are sunk.

July 17, 1943
(13th AF, USN, USMC) Seven B-24's and 70+ US Navy and Marine Corps airplanes, escorted by 100+ USAAF and Allied fighters, attack shipping off Buin. The B-24's claim hits on two cargo vessels, and the dive bombers claim serious damage of three destroyers, a patrol ship, an oiler, a merchant ship, and the two cargo vessels. Sunk is Hatsuyuki. In the air battle, Allied aircraft claim 40+ Zekes and at least 4 float planes shot down; 5 Allied airplanes are lost. F4U 02421 (MIA), SBD 10586 (MIA), SBD 10918 (MIA) P-38G 42-13361 (MIA) P-38G 43-2206 (rescued).

July 22, 1943
(13th AF) 20+ B-17's and B-24's, 40+ US Navy dive bombers, and 100+ Allied fighter aircraft attack shipping in the area off Buin. Sunk is Nisshin, a seaplane carrier, and damaging hits are claimed on several other vessels.
Japanese resupply missions to Buin
December 16, 1943–January 28, 1944

December 16, 1943
IJN: RO-109 arrives Buin and sucessfully unloads her cargo then departs.

December 26, 1943
IJN: RO-109 arrives Buin and sucessfully unloads her cargo then departs.

January 28, 1944
IJN: RO-109 arrives Buin and sucessfully unloads her cargo then departs.

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?


  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram