Rabaul was the most heavily defended target in the Southwest Pacific; the Japanese had turned it into a practically impregnable fortress with large concentrations of antiaircraft guns. Rabaul—on the island of New Britain—was one of two major ports in the Australian Territory of New Guinea. In early 1944, Rabaul became the target of heavy bombing raids. During the second week of January, B-25s from the 42nd Bombardment Group flew their first mission over Rabaul from their new base in the Russell Islands. JAPANESE BOMBING RAID ON HORN ISLAND 14 MARCH 1942 . After a whirlwind inspection of the combat squadrons, MacArthur’s new air boss ordered a stand-down of combat operations during which maintenance crews would work day and night to get the heavy bombers ready for a big mission. Rabaul harbour on New Britain was a natural deep water port that the Japanese had converted into their major forward base closest to the Soloman Islands. COMAIRSOLS was a dual command made up of Army and Marine Corps squadrons, along with some New Zealand units. Only two Liberators were lost. Admiral Halsey requested that the Fifth Air Force B-25s hit the airfields in advance of the carrier attacks, but bad weather forced them to turn back. Lakunai and Vunakanau airfields were prewar Australian strips. Bombing of ships from high altitude was generally hit and miss. Afterwards, the buildings were either destroyed by U. S. bombing or deliberately burned down by the Japanese. Fortunately, the Allies had something that the Japanese did not—strength in numbers and rising superiority in aircraft, both in quality and production. Heavy bomber crews reported hits on at least two Japanese vessels and secondary fires on shore. The fifth airfield protecting Rabaul was Borpop airfield, completed in December 1942 across the St. Georges Channel on New Ireland. Unfortunately for the United States, in 1941 time was on Japan’s side. The AIRSOLS crews were experiencing what Fifth Air Force crews had been enduring for almost two years. Thirteenth Air Force Liberators joined with the Seventh bombers and the neutralization of Truk began. Two destroyers were on the approach path into the harbor, and the narrow slot made them difficult to attack. Aerial reconnaissance photographs indicated that Japanese fighter strength at Rabaul had risen dramatically to almost 150 aircraft between October 1 and October 11, so Kenney ordered the Fifth Air Force to mount an attack to take them out. Previous plans had called for MacArthur’s forces to focus their attention on driving the Japanese out of New Guinea and gaining control of western New Britain once Admiral Halsey’s South Pacific Forces had captured Bougainville. Late in October 1943, the Japanese began to assemble a major naval force at Rabaul New Britain. The Allies of World War II conducted an air attack upon a cruiser force at the major Japanese base of Rabaul in November 1943. It was not until November 2 that weather conditions finally allowed the attack. Prior to mid-September 1943, Rabaul had been beyond the effective range of the modified B-25s. Atago was near-missed by three 500 lb (230 kg) bombs that caused severe damage and killed 22 crewmen, including her captain. Their numbers were very low, thanks largely to the strategic decision made by the U.S. and British governments to defeat Germany first. Like the B-26s, their results were mixed. Another innovation was the “Kenney Cocktail,” a 100-pound bomb casing loaded with white phosphorous. Major John P. Henebry led 40 B-25s of the 3rd Attack Group over Rapopo in three vees of 12 to 15 airplanes each, with about a mile between the formations. Before it became the major Japanese forward base in the Southwest Pacific, Rabaul had been a picturesque island city located on the banks of one of the region’s largest natural harbors, a feature that brought it to the attention of military planners in both Washington and Tokyo as America and Japan geared up for war. Most of the missions were flown at night, with the crews bombing under the light of flares. Beginning on April 6, 1942, the 22nd Group B-26s flew 16 missions with more than 80 sorties before medium bomber missions to Rabaul were discontinued. Before the medium bombers were taken off the Rabaul run, their crews claimed hits on three transports, two merchant ships, and an aircraft carrier. Marine Major Gregory Boyington led a fighter sweep of 76 airplanes over the stronghold, but the Japanese failed to rise to meet them in large numbers. Kenney’s orders had also stipulated that Walker was not to go on the mission. 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