2-4 March – a Japanese convoy was headed for the Lae-Salamaua area of New Guinea. The Allied ULTRA intelligence knew their course and that they were carrying nearly 7,000 men of the 51st Division. Australian Capt. W.H. Garing convinced US Gen. Kenney to use a massive co-ordinated attack against them. From the US 5th Air Force Mitchells, Bostons, and Liberators, with the Royal Australian Air Force adding 11 Catalinas, 22 Bostons, 30 Beaufighters and 100 Beauforts,(totaling 355 aircraft), including US torpedo boats, devastated the convoy in constant waves of attack. This would become known as the Battle of the Bismark Sea.
W.H. Garing
__________ALLIES____________JAPANESE
Battle of the Bismark Sea
Strength
39 heavy bombers;
41 medium bombers;
34 light bombers;
54 fighters
10 torpedo boats
8 transports,
5 destroyers sunk
20 fighters destroyed,
2,890+ dead
The enemy was subjected to repeated dive-bombing, skip-bombing, torpedo runs and strafing attacks with true accuracy not only on the convoy, but shipping and Lae airfield. Only approximately 950 to 1,200 Japanese made it to shore at Lae and about 2,700 Japanese soldiers were picked up and returned to Rabaul. As another 1,000 of the enemy were adrift, the PT boats attacked. IJN rescue vessels, including I-17 and I-26 picked up about another 170 survivors.
RAAF Bostons, No. 22 Squadron
3-6 March – the Chindits in Burma were continuing to advance and successfully blow up enemy railroad lines and bridges. But, each column was receiving heavy resistance and high casualties. Four and Two Column became dispersed after one particularly bloody battle.
6 March, the Munda and Vila airfields in the Solomons were given heavy fire from the US Navy. During this action, 2 Japanese destroyers were sunk.
8-13 March – the Japanese in China renewed their offensive against the weak Nationalist forces, but their advance was halted at the Yangste River. On the 10th, to expand air cover for the Burma campaign and eastern Pacific, the US 14th Army Air Force was created under MGen. Claire Chennault, and based in China.
Washington D.C., March 1943
12 March – representatives of MacArthur and Nimitz met in Washington DC for the ‘Pacific Military Conference’. The Army and Navy immediately became locked in a stalemate. FDR ordered Gen. Marshall to have MacArthur prepare for the “ultimate seizure of the Bismark Archipelago.” This left Halsey restricted to advancing up the Solomons. [Being as more and more ships were being lost in the ETO, that meant even fewer replacement ships would be sent to the Pacific.] This also meant that it would be nearly 3 months before an Allied offensive plan could begin to move forward again in the PTO.
Some of the Australian data was acquired through the assistance of Robert Kingsley @ Java Gold Blog
Highest ranking officer still listed as MIA to receive honors in NM
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS
Associated Press
Published: September 18, 2015
BGen. Kenneth Walker
Brig. Gen. Kenneth Newton Walker
OFFICIAL U.S. AIR FORCE BIOGRAPHY
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — More than 70 years after a mysterious World War II disappearance, the nation’s highest ranking military officer listed as missing in action is receiving honors in his birth state of New Mexico as the search continues for his body.
Brig. Gen. Kenneth Walker, a Medal of Honor recipient who helped create an air plan to defeat Hitler in World War II, will be celebrated starting Friday in the city of Roswell where a now-closed based once carried his name. The city will have a Walker Air Force Base Historic Marker thanks to the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty."
GP is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!
Wow, the Pathe video was absolutely riveting! Terrible to think of all those enemy lives lost, but what a resounding victory for the Americans in cooperation with their Australian counterparts.
Sadly a lot of these story’s will never be written, best we make the most of the verbal story’s of these heroes while we can, only the fortunate I think, have been lucky enough to have their feats recorded in words.
Wow, 355 aircraft. I had never heard of this battle before. Thanks for the detailed information. We have a village here on Guam called Nimitz Hill in recognition of Admiral Nimitz. I’m glad I had visited here once again today because I didn’t see that flag-folding widget before. Awesome!
You can contribute any time you wish – the more information the better!! But – I was planning on re-blogging that very post on Friday. Guess I still can, eh?
I have heard of the ” Battle of the Bismark Sea.” but the details that you provided.Also glad to see that Kenneth Walker is receiving recognition for all that he did. Great post!
All this was happening just nine years before I was born into a world free of global war. Sobering to consider that, at least for me.
Best wishes, Pete.
I think that our generation was acutely aware of how recent the war had been Disabled ex-soldiers, parents who had been through it all, and many widows and orphans too. It was a certain time, for sure.
Thanks for mentioning one of my favorite sports figures–Yogi Berra. You hit the important highlights. He came from the same Italian, St. Louis neighborhood, as Joe Garagiola and Harry Caray.
Glad I got it right, Adam. I knew Yogi was in the Navy and D-Day but I had to go looking for his hometown. No one will ever forget his iconic leap after the perfect game!!
Reblogged this on KCJones.
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Thank you, Penny.
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So, GP, you’ve arrived at my birthday, 3/3/43. I read your tale with interest. Thanks. –Curt
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Seems strange to see what happened while we emerged into this world, eh? Happy (sort of) Birthday, Curt!
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“And now they sleep side by side.” War makes many victims. I hope that are at peace.
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Beautiful sentiments, Micheline. Thank you.
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For eternity.
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For general info gp.
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They were TREMENDOUS!!!!!!
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Wow, the Pathe video was absolutely riveting! Terrible to think of all those enemy lives lost, but what a resounding victory for the Americans in cooperation with their Australian counterparts.
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Team work, amazing what can be accomplished! Thanks for coming by.
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Very interesting post!
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Thank you.
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Maybe of interest gp…..http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0336k8n
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It’s always interesting to view the pilots and hear their stories. Brits and Canadians alike were in the Battle of Britain.
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Sadly a lot of these story’s will never be written, best we make the most of the verbal story’s of these heroes while we can, only the fortunate I think, have been lucky enough to have their feats recorded in words.
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So true.
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“You should always go to other people’s funerals. Otherwise, they won’t come to yours.” — Yogi Berra (1925 – 2015).
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Classic! He will be missed! Yogi even said a few beauts in his Geiko commercial with the duck!!
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Wow, 355 aircraft. I had never heard of this battle before. Thanks for the detailed information. We have a village here on Guam called Nimitz Hill in recognition of Admiral Nimitz. I’m glad I had visited here once again today because I didn’t see that flag-folding widget before. Awesome!
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You are welcome for the Bismark info. I discovered many had no idea how to fold the flag, so I added it in.
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Thank you for another great post. And thank you for including the info about BGen Kenneth Walker. Its important our heroes aren’t forgotten.
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You’re welcome. I do my best to stay up to date on the WWII info, I’m not always successful – but I try. Thanks for visiting, Claire.
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Ah, here we are. The Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Here’s some newsreel footage from British Pathe:
Hope it’s ok to include our post on the subject 🙂 https://airwarworldwar2.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/tragedy-above-the-bismarck-sea/
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You can contribute any time you wish – the more information the better!! But – I was planning on re-blogging that very post on Friday. Guess I still can, eh?
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Oh! Great minds think alike then? 🙂
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You got it!!
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I have heard of the ” Battle of the Bismark Sea.” but the details that you provided.Also glad to see that Kenneth Walker is receiving recognition for all that he did. Great post!
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Thank you, Kathy. You have my gratitude for your visits here!!
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My pleasure and really enjoy your posts!
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🙂
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Nice post. And I notice you’ve included Yogi Berra in your farewell salutes. What a great ballplayer he was.
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Funny, Loyal – an all-round nice guy. Wish I had met him.
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All this was happening just nine years before I was born into a world free of global war. Sobering to consider that, at least for me.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I know what you mean, it was 7 years earlier for me, weeks after the Korean War started. Strange feeling to think of it that way, isn’t it?!
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I think that our generation was acutely aware of how recent the war had been Disabled ex-soldiers, parents who had been through it all, and many widows and orphans too. It was a certain time, for sure.
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Granted.
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Another fascinating post. I always learn something new,reading your blog.
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Thank you, Amber.
I tried to visit your site a couple of times, but my computer keeps saying that you took the blog down – is that true?
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Thanks for taking the time to check. I appreciate it.
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Please try again.
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Try this link: https://taoistyogi.wordpress.com
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It works, thanks.
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I wish I left my url what it was.
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Thanks for mentioning one of my favorite sports figures–Yogi Berra. You hit the important highlights. He came from the same Italian, St. Louis neighborhood, as Joe Garagiola and Harry Caray.
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Glad I got it right, Adam. I knew Yogi was in the Navy and D-Day but I had to go looking for his hometown. No one will ever forget his iconic leap after the perfect game!!
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A wonderful remark by the pretty young lady in the cartoon!
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Thanks. I thought it was fairly good timing for this since the Pacific Military Conference was just mentioned. Appreciate your visit, John!
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It’s pretty funny!
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Check back if you have a chance – the post has been edited with a link to your site.
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Oh cool, thanks.
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