October 12, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Five B-24's bomb the warehouse area and railroad yards at Myitkyina.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Two B-25's skip-bomb two small vessels in Matchin Bay. Lost is B-25C 42-64571.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Allied aircraft begin a major air offensive against Rabaul, with the aim of isolating and neutralizing it. This was the first signifigant air raid againt Rabaul since January 5, 1943. Almost 350 B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and RAAF airplanes pound the town, harbor, and airfields in the area, including B-25D Mitchells from 345th BG that conduct the first low level parafag bomb attack against 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-24D "Pistol Packin' Mama" 42-40594 pilot 1st Lt. Hampton E. Rich (MIA), B-25D 41-30239 pilot 2nd Lt. Edsal L. Crews (MIA), B-24D 42-40675 pilot Captain Dorwin C. Wilson (rescued) and Beufighter A19-97 pilot F/L Derrick Robert Stone (MIA). Also, B-25's fly small strikes against targets on Timor and other areas of the Netherlands East Indies.

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: Lost at Rabaul is Keisho Maru, sea trucks 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.

At Vunakanau Airfield parked G4M1 Bettys from 751 Kōkūtai (751 Air Group) and 702 Kōkūtai (702 Air Group) are bombed and strafed by B-25D Mitchells and result in the loss of nine destroyed and three damaged beyond repair with others suffering lesser damage.

JAAF: At Rapopo Airfeld, Ki-21 Sallys from 14th Hiko Sentai (14th Flying Regiment) were were taking off bound for New Guinea when an air raid commenced. Four escaped but Ki-21 Sally pilot Capt. Tero Kurano (KIA) a chutai leader was shot down with other bombers damaged on the ground. In total, 16 planes were destroyed or badly damaged incluing Ki-48 Lilys from 208th Hiko Sentai (208th Flying Regiment) and transports from 20th Squadron.

RAAF: Lost is Beaufighter A19-97 pilot F/L Derrick R. Stone on a mission against Tobera Airfield near Rabaul and crashed near Ganai.

References
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) pages 82-83 (October 12, 1943), 85 (map)
South Pacific Air War (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 450-451
"Due to a late takeoff (dust conditions caused by previous B-25 takeoffs), a dozen Beaufighters arrived over Tobera without a P-38 escort. They encountered a reported nineteen Japanese fighters, possibly a mixed formation from 204 Air with a four-plane flight of 201 Air attached. The Beaufighters aborted their strafing attack and hastily withdrew, harassed by Japanese fighters. Eventually one Beaufighter was lost. It was probably the “new type B-26” claimed by Air Group 204."