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
Allied missions against Cape Saint George and Saint Georges Channel
December 31, 1942–October 26, 1944

December 31, 1942
(5th AF) B-24s operating singly attack shipping in Saint George Channel.

August 30, 1942
(5th AF) B-17s attack shipping in Saint Georges Channel.

January 19, 1943
(5th AF) Heavy bombers carry out individual attacks on Cape Saint George.

February 24, 1943
(5th AF) B-24s continue single-plane harassing strikes on shipping in the Solomon Sea off Cape Saint George.

April 12, 1943
(5th AF) B-24's and B-17's hit shipping in the Saint George Channel.

July 28, 1943
(5th AF) B-24's unsuccessfully attack shipping in Saint George Channel.

August 31, 1943
(5th AF) Bombers fly scattered strikes against shipping and shore targets in the Saint George Channel.

November 1, 1943
(5th AF) During the night of 1/2 Nov, 2 radar snooper B-24's attack a convoy west of Cape Saint Georges.

November 25-26, 1943
(IJN/USN) Battle of Cape St. George was the kast Naval action was the last surface engagement of the Solomon campaign results in no U.S. Navy casualties. The Japanese Navy lost three destroyers sunk including Yugiri.

December 4, 1943
(RAAF) Six Beauforts took off on a torpedo strike against shipping in the St Georges Channel to Blanche Bay. Lost is Beaufort A9-262 (two POW).

December 23, 1943
(RNZAF) Six RNZAF Ventura's attack a radar station and lighthouse on Cape Saint George.

December 24, 1943
(RNZAF) Ventura's on armed reconnaissance claim two fighters shot down east of Cape Saint Georges. Also, P-40s from 16 Squadron, 17 Squadron and 1st Squadron passed Cape Saint Georges between 11:00am-12:00pm as a rally point before continuing towards Rabaul. Returning, 16 Squadron P-40N NZ3199 piloted by F/O Starnes noted: "Passing Cape St. George, there was light A/A, medium intensity and inaccurate. This was fired right from the tip of the Cape, the gun emplacements being plainly visible." Reference Air-To-Air page 233

(USN) F6F Hellcat 09028 ditched 8-10 miles off Cape Saint George into Saint Georges Channel and is later rescued.

December 25, 1943
(13th AF)
Reference: The Crusaders page 55:
"A memorable raid as far as Lieut. Albert B. Marx and crew are concerned is the one they flew in December, during which their airplane was shot up so badly that ditching was an absolute must. Two of the crew had been injured, but all six of them made the rafts and were picked up by 'Dumbo, I Love You,' two hours and 20 minutes later."

December 26, 1943
(13th AF) Seven B-25s from the 42nd BG escorted by 34 fighters attack the Cape Saint George area.
Reference: The Crusaders page 55: "On December 26th we made our first strike outside the Solomon area - seven Mitchells releasing 84 centuries on the radar station at the southernmost tip of Cape St. George, New Ireland, together with 9500 rounds. The tower was toppled by one hit and the shack perforated by tracers. Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer led the attack."

January 7, 1944
(USN, RNZAF) Due to clouds over their primary target at Rabaul, 24 SBDs and TBFs bombed the secondary target at Cape Saint George, escorted by RNZAF 17 Squadron P-40s and USN F4Us. Zeros attacked but were intercepted by the F4Us. Reference: Air-To-Air page 255

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. 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 10, 1944
(13th AF) AAF and USN fighters cover a USN dive bomber strike against Cape Saint George.

January 11, 1944
(13th AF) About 90 Allied fighters cover 60+ USN dive bombers attacking the Cape Saint George area.

January 19, 1944
(13th AF) Attacks during the day are limited to isolated strikes on shipping and other targets of opportunity by aircraft on armed reconnaissance over Saint George Channel.

February 5, 1944
(RNZAF) Two P-40s were observed to crash into the sea (one well out in St. Georges Channel and the other close to Cape St. George) but it was not determined if these aircraft were P-40s, but two RNZAF 18 Squadron pilots went missing this mission: P-40N NZ3120 and P-40N NZ3126. (Reference Air-To-Air page 290)

February 23, 1944
(13th AF) 4 B-24s on armed reconnaissance strafe the Cape Saint George area and bomb buildings and pier at Labur Bay.

February 27, 1944
(13th AF) 3 P-38s strafe a radar station at Cape Saint George.

March 3, 1944
(13th AF) 5 P-38s bomb radar installations at Cape Saint George.

October 26, 1944
(USN) STAG-1 Two TDR drones attack a lighthouse on Cape St. George, making one hit which demolished the structure.



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