Target: Rabaul (80 page)

Sixth Air Attack Force,
308

21st Air Flotilla,
130
–131

1st Air Attack Force,
56

25th Air Flotilla,
121
,
128
,
130
–131,
168
,
316

5th Air Attack Force,
56
,
59

26th Air Flotilla,
309

6th Air Attack Force,
56
,
308

Air Group
2
:
59

Air Group
201
:
134
,
178
,
276
,
280
,
292

Air Group
204
:
30
,
134
,
139
,
141
,
143
–144,
167
,
178
,
204
,
292
–293,
302
,
307
–308

Air Group
251
:
56
,
59
–60,
70
,
77

Air Group
253
:
61
,
131
,
134
,
139
,
143
–144,
155
–156,
166
,
178
,
276
,
278
,
280
,
292
,
293
,
301
,
306
,
308
,
333
,
335

Air Group 501:
206
,
209
,
280

Air Group 582:
57
,
150
–151

Air Group 702:
56
,
120
,
264

Air Group 705:
38
,
118
,
120

Air Group 751:
38
,
131
,
141
,
315

Air Groups 702:
141

Tainan Air Group,
59
–60,
70
,
77

New Zealand

New Zealand Army

3rd New Zealand Division,
312

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF),
267
,
274
–275,
278
,
283
,
297
,
330
,
351
,
352
,
360

No.
14
Squadron,
275

No.
16
Squadron,
275

No.
17
Squadron,
298

Ships and Other Vessels

Allied

Birmingham
,
264

Bunker Hill
,
219
–223,
228
,
291

Cony
,
171

Denver
,
264

Edwards
,
228

Enterprise
,
195
,
197

Essex
,
219
,
221
–222,
226
–227

Gato
,
248

Glory
,
357
,
360

Greenling
,
237
,
239

Grouper
,
239
,
242

Hart
,
357

Independence
,
219
,
221

Intrepid
,
313

Kankakee
,
199

Langley
,
194

Lexington
,
19
,
194
,
196

Monterey
,
291

Princeton
,
197
,
201
–205,
209
,
212
,
217
–219,
221
–223

Saratoga
,
194
–197,
199
,
201
–204,
207
,
209
–212,
217
–218,
221
–222

Sigourney
,
300

St.
Louis,
312

Vendetta
,
357
,
358

Victorious
,
195

Yorktown
,
19

Japanese

Aden Maru
,
50
–51

Agano
,
176
,
183
,
189
,
213
,
222
,
224

Akikaze
,
48
–49

Amagiri
,
208
,
213

Atago
,
193
,
204
,
207
,
213
–214

Chikuma
,
193
,
207
–208,
213

Chokai
,
193
,
205

Fujinami
,
208
,
213

Haguro
,
176
,
183
,
189
,
191

Hakusan Maru
,
186
,
188

Hatsukaze
,
176

Hayashio
,
32

Himalaya Maru
,
266
–267

Hiyo
,
37

Hokuyo Maru
,
186

Johore Maru
,
155

Junyo
,
4
–5,
37

Kasuga Maru
,
94

Keishu Maru
,
148

Kido Butai
,
20

Kokai Maru
,
315

Kowa Maru
,
315

Kumano
,
116

Manko Maru
,
185
,
191

Man Maru
,
191

Matsukaze
,
299

Maya
,
193
,
207
,
213
,
215
,
222
,
225

Minazuki
,
148

Mochizuki
,
148

Mogami
,
193
,
207
–208,
213
–214

Musashi
,
41

Myoko
,
176
,
183
,
191

Naganami
,
225

Nagaura
,
316

Naruto
,
147
,
299

Noshiro
,
193
,
208
,
213
,
222

Otori
,
32

Samidare
,
183

Sendai
,
176
,
182

Shigure
,
121
,
176
,
182
–183,
213

Shinko Maru
,
191

Shiratsuyu
,
183
,
191

Shokaku
,
174
,
178
,
223

Suzunami
,
224
–225

Suzuya
,
193
,
208

Tachikazi
,
148

Takao
,
193
,
207
,
213
–215

Tsukushi
,
143
,
147

Yubari
,
222

Zingu Maru
,
191

Zuiho
,
174
,
178
,
205
,
213
,
223
,
226

Zuikaku
,
37
,
174
,
178
,
205
,
213
,
223
,
226
,
306

AFHRA

Lieutenant General George Kenney (above) and Vice Adm. Jinichi Kusaka (below, foreground), not only had phonetically similar names, but they were the top aviation leaders in the Southwest Pacific. Kenney commanded the U.S. Fifth Air Force and all Allied air units in Australia, while Kusaka led the Imperial Navy’s Eleventh Air Fleet and Southeast Area Fleet. They were also the same age, 54, in late 1943.

Henry Sakaida collection

One of the heavies: parked in a large earthen revetment at Seven Mile airdrome (a.k.a. Jackson Field), Port Moresby, B-24D
Moby Dick
of the 320th Bomb Squadron/90th Bomb Group displays markings typical of early 1943. Many of the D models were later retrofitted with a nose turret for improved frontal protection against fighters.
National Archives