MR 203(3) Sec. 8 Japanese Naval Activities - August-October 1943

MR 203 (3), Sec. 8, JAPANESE NAVAL ACTIVITIES (Aug-Oct 1943) 100-mm) INSURANCE 1 4 SEQRET Cop 2 of 12 Copies NAVY DEPARTMENT Office of the Chief of Naval Operations TASPINOTON It la requested that this document be burned as soon as it has served its purpose and that in the meantime it not be pluced in any general jile. Japanese Naval Activities Summary of 0800, 30 October 1943. I. Southwestern Pacific Area (A) Solomon Islanda During the afternoon of 26 October, 6 B-25's and 16 P-38's raided Buka airdrome. The bombers flying at a low altitude strafed the control tower and destroyed a Jap bomber on the ground. 8 P-38's leading the attack sank an auxiliary oraft loaded with tropps and destroyed 5 enemy fighters and a bombor on the ground. Some 2,500 personnel were seen working on Bonis runway which was attacked, killing at least 200 Japa. The morning of the some day, Ballale was raided by 2 F6F's and shortly thereafter a force of 49 SBD's, 36 TBF's, 22 B-25's covered by 69 fighters heavily bombed Kahili. An hour and a half after this raid 27 B-24's escorted by 16 P-38's bombed Kahili again scoring hits on the runway, dispersal area and beached ships. No interception was encountered, but heavy N/A fire destroyed 1 TBF. The strip is now unserviceable, The afternoon of the same day, a force of 30 SBD's and 18 TBF's accompanied by 42 fighters bombed Kara airfield which had been recently resurfaced and reported serviosable. Buildings, N/A positions and the rumway were hit rendering the field unservicoable. 1 Zero was in the air tut no interception encountered. Prior to our landing on Treasury Ialand the evening of 26 October 5 B-34 raided enemy positions. The following morning additional New Zealand troope landed on the Island. By the afternoon the situation WAS reported as quiet. 75 Japs were killed and the rest were retreating to the NE shore of Malsi. On 27 October, 17 B-24's without escort dropped tons on Kuhili and Kara at 1100L. Both runvays were heavily hit. No interception encountored and our planes were not damagod. At 1640L Allied and Jap fighters engaged in combat 15 miles N. of Treasury Ialand. 12 of 25 Jap planes were destroyed. At 1615L our fighters reported 70 Jap fighters over Kahili. Only 9 of the eneryy planes were engagod of which 3 were destroyed. We lost no planes. The night of 27 October, Jap planes harassed our LST's retiring from Treasury Island. Float lights, colored flares and 2 bomba wero dropped causing minor damage to 1 LST. Early in the mornáng of 28 Uctober the 2nd parachute battalion landed without opposition on the SN coast of Choiseul near Vora. A Jap plane dropped bomba at a DD off shore during the operation tut no damage resulted. The following night an Allied medium bomber strafed 3 small veasels off the SIT coast of Choiseul and later strafed 8 amall enemy craft just s. of Choiseul -1 SECBET OBD GED Regraded Unclassified AET - SEORET Bay. On 29 October the Japs wore withdrawing N. on Choiseul in the Warrior River area. A thousand Japa were reported dispersed between Luti and Kakasa on the SM coast of the island while others were reported at the barge depot at Sangigai. During the night of 28 - 29 October an Allied reconnaissance plane strafed a Jap AK 5 miles N. of Numa Numa (NE Bour gainville). Another reconnaissance plane the following day strafed a 5 ampan loaded with troops noor Green Island (NM of Buka). The sampan WB.8 left burning. During the night of 28 October, Jap planes dropped bomba on Quadalcanal but no oasualties or damage resulted. (B) New Britain - New Ireland Additional details of the attack during the night of 26 October on eneny shipping off Ubili indicate that 3 B-24's dropped 12 1000 1b. bomba on a force including 3 DD's and 2 small AK's. Hita were scored on 1 DD causing large firos while near misses resulted on another DD. One of the AK's was attacked and claimed aunk. 6 RAAF Catalinas set out early 28 October to attack Kavieng. 3 of the planes reached the target and dropped 6 tons of bombs causing explosions in the dispersal area. One plane returned because of engine trouble while the others bombed Gasmata and Cape Hoakins. The same day a B-24 on reconnaissance bombed a Jap CL, 200 miles N. of Mussau Island, but the veasel was not hit. Two floatplanes took ost from the ship. A single B-24 strafed the road from Jacquinot Bay to the SN and 3 barges on tho beach, while lother single B-24'8 bombed- Unes destroying a building and bombada and strafed Garove and Mundua Islands (Vitu group). 3 barges near Cape Hoskins were destroyed and the porsonnel and buildings at Talasea were strafed by 4 P-47's. 2 RAAF Beaufigitors destroyed 2 barges and danaged another at Open Bay- 21 RAAF P-40's dropped 5 tons of bombs on Gasmata starting fires. (c) New Guinea An Allied patrol on Long Island, 28 October, renorts the area cleared of Japa except on the SN coast. Allied artillery shelled enemy positions in the Satelburg aroa the samo day. No further details were reported. 4 P-47'a strafed enemy positions and installations on the N. shore of Huon Peninsula causing fires in buildings at Sio and destroying 2 barges. (D) N. E. I. Two Dutch B-85's set out Lo attack the shipping off the Tanimbar Islands, 28 October. One of the bombers reported near mieses on a sea truok. The vessel was also strafed. II. South China Sea On 28 October a B-25 attacked enomy shipping off the Kwangehowwan Peninaula. One 150 foot AK was sunk and a second damaged. R. A. Boone. SECRET - Regraded Unclassified GECRET SEGRET DISTRIBUTION, Copy No. 1 - COMINCH Copy No. 2 - NAVAL AIDE Copy No. 3 - P-1 (Plans) Copy No. 4 - SECNAV Copy No. 5 - Op-16 Copy No. 6 - Op-16-FA-1 Copy No. 7 - US JIC Copy No. 8 - MID Copy No. 9 - MID Copy No. 10 - MID Copy No. 11 - Op-20-GI Copy No. 12 - FILE. -3 - DECH -3-71 OSD SECHET Qu Regraded Unclassified OSD Sechin Copt lo. 2 of 12 Copies on 28 NAVY DEPARTMENT Zlube Buy, bosbla office of the Chief of Naval Operations end WASHINGTON It la requested that this document be Choo 6 5-24 burned as soon as it has served its sterties purpose and that in the meantime it not be placed in any general file. Japanese Noval Activities Summary as of 0800, October 29, 1943. Southwestern Pacifio (A) Solomon Islands On the morning of 28 October Kara was twice attacked by Allied planes. The firet time 29 SHD's end 19 TBF's, under an escort of 17 P-40's, 15 F6F's and 14 P-39's, bombed and atrafed the runway, scoring 3 direct hits on Jap N/A batteries. 3 TBF's were damaged by A/A fire and another orash- lended on the water. The 2nd time, 19 unescorted B-24's scored hits on the runway and revetment areas. Neither of these missiona sighted any enomy planes on the runway or in the air. About midday the seme day 38 SBD's end 21 TBP's, covered by 16 F6F's, 16 P-39's and 16 P-40*a, bombed and strafed Balble. 6 SBD's and 6 TBF's were demaged by A/A fire but all planes returnad safely. There were no Jap planes on the ground or in the air. 32 Allied Planes which covered ground activities on Treasury Islend from dawn to duak 28 October didn't sight a single Jap plone. The afternoon of 29 October, 10-12 small troop laden Jap AK's and many barges in Tonolei Herbor were strafed by 16 F4U's. An AK and a barge wore destroyed, 3 AK's probably burned end 3 barges set afire. That evoning, Allied forces advanciug on gangigai, SW Central Choiseul, ran into a strong body of the enemy between Vangara and Voza, 16 miles SE of Choiseul Bay. No details were reported. (B) Now Irolend The night of 28 October 4 RAAF PBY's dropped over 6 tons of bomba on Kevieng, sterting a number of fires. 1 PBT also dropped n ton of bomba on Talasea and about a ton on Gasmata with unreported resulta. The asme night, 15 miles NE of Cape St. George, a patrolling PBY bombed and strafed 2 Jap AK's with unobserved results. Light N/A fire encountered. (c) New Britain On 28 October, Jap bivouao areas at Gasmata were raided by a B-24 while the dump area was bombed by another B-24. 2 tons of bombs fell with unobserved results. N/A fire encountered was intense but inaccurato. That night, in Wide Bay, a patrolling PBY dropped 7 bomba on a jetty at Brown Island. No results were reported. 5 Copy No. / - 95 310 Copy 36. a - NOO Copy No. 2 - SCLD 11 - Op-20-GL Cogy Vo. to- MED SECHET OSD DE 203(3) on DED Regraded Unclassified MESCRET SECHE OBD On 29 October, 2 RAAF Bosufighters and 2 RAAF A-20's swopt Kimbe Bay, bombing and strafing a number of Jap barges of which 3 wero set afire and 2 damaged. The day Garove Island was hit with a ton of bomba from a B-24 while 4 P-47'e strafed coastal villages S. of Cape Glougester, sterting e number of fires. (D) New Guinea Early on the morning of 29 October Buna was raided by 4 enemy planes but no danage or onsualties resulted. The Bame day N. of Kiriwim 2 RAAF P-40'a dropped 2 500-1b. bombs on a Jap SS with unobserved results. The seme day a large Jap barge in Hansa Bay was strafed and sunk by 2 P-47's which also strafed 9 other ensmy oraft during the course of a sweep N. of Madang. The Bamo day a B-24 dropped a ton of bombs on Sio and Nambariva, just E. of Sio. (E) N. E. I. The orew of 1 of the 2 B-24's lost on the 26 October raid on Pomelan has been resoued and the men report scoring B hit on a medium AK - AP off Pomolan, leaving the vessel in flames. The bomber also destroyed 10 Jap fighters during the course of en hour's running fight before it WAS shot down over E. Timor. On 29 October Selaru, Tanimbar Islands, was raided by 3 Allied missions. 6 RAAP beaufighters dropped 3/4 of a ton of bomba on a amall vessol enchored in the area and strafed the airfield and dumps. The seme amall vessel was left sinking by 5 Dutoh B-25's whioh also bombed and strafed shore supply areas. Finally, 3 B-24's bombed the target. These planes also acored direct hits on a Jap sea truck in Waroe Bay, Ceram, leaving it ablase. All of the missions encountered slight and inacourate N/A fire over Selaru. II. U. S. Submarine Report A U.S. SS returning from patrol reports danaging 2 Jap AK's totalling 15,500 tons. 25 - 26 Outober, the G. ututer of heavy about 10 by by 16 13 of R. A. Boone com and DISTRIBUTION: by parachato to thatr farces la the Copy No. 1 - COMINCH Copy No. 2 - NAVAL AIDE Copy No. 3 - P-1 (Plana) Copy No. 4 - SECHAT Copy No. 5 - Op-16 netivity an Ontober - Copy No. 6 - Op-16-FA-1 25 Octobar - note Copy No. 7 - US JIC Copy No. 8 - MIN and Copy No. 9 - MID Copy No. 11 - Op-20-0I Copy No. 10- MID Copy No. 12 - FILE. " SE in Regraded Unclassified SECRET GECRET Cop: O. 2 of 12 Copies. MAPT DEPARTMENT Office of the Chief of Naval Operations TASHINGTON It is requested that this document DE burned as soon as it has served its purpose and that in the meantime it not be placed la ang general file. Japanese Naval Activities the A Summary as of 0800, 29 October 1943 I. Southwestern Pacific B. As (A) Solomon Islands Reconnaissance photographs 26 October indicate that the enomy is extending and suffacing the runway at Kieta, NE central Bougainville. No planes were observed there, however. (B) New Ireland Early the morning of 27 October Kavieng airfield was raided by 2 RAAF PBY's with unobserved results. About the same time, off Sg New Ireland, a U.S. PBY scored a near miss on 1 of 2 S. bound Jap DD's. (c) Now Britain Early the morning of 27 October 2 RAAF PBY's bombed Gasmata, starting a number of fires. Lator in the morn.ng, the eame target was reided by 4 A-20's which dropped over a ton of bumba and strafed the dump areas. These planes also dropped EV a ton of bombs on a small vessel in the area, scoring near misses. Slight and inaccurate N/A fire was encountered ovor Gasmata. The same day, off Ubili, NE Now Britain, 2 Beaufighters on a coastal swoep destroyed a stall eneny launch in a strafing attsck. The S. coast was strafed by a patrolling B-24. Belated reports increase the number of Jap fighter planos destroyed in combat during the 23 - 24 October attacks on Rabaul from 58 to 63. (D) Now Guines The night of 25 - 26 October, in the Finschhafen - Satelburg area, the Jape withdrew further W. under prossure of heavy Allied mortar fire. The afternoon of 27 October, off Finachhafen, about 10 Jap bombers, covered by so fighters, were intercepted by 16 P-40°a. 12 of the enory planes -- 6 bombers and 6 fighters -- vere shot down and 6 more were probably destroyed. The Jap planes dropped supplies by parachute to their ground forces in the Satelburg aros. L P-40 was lost. (E) N. E. I. Allied air aotivity over N.E.I. 27 October WAS limited to reconnaiesance flighta. Photographs taken 26 October reveal a now 2400 foot - 1 - QBD 203(3) SECRE QBD Regraded Unclassified SECRET 1 SECRET runway miles ENE of Doka, central Trangan, Aroe Islands. II. U.S. Submarine Report A U.S. SS returning from a 47 day patrol reports sinking a 5346 ton AK and demaging 2 7500 ton auxiliary AK - AP's. R. A. Boone. DISTRI BUTION: Copy No. 1 - COMINCH Copy No. 2 - NAVAL AIDE Copy No. 3 - F-1 (Plane) Copy No. 4 - SECNAV Copy No. 5 - Op-16 Copy No. 6 - Op-16-FA-1 Copy No. 7 - US JIC Copy No. B - MID 200 Copy No. 9 - MID Copy No. 10 - VID Copy No. 11 - Op-20-GI. Copy No. 12 - FILE. - to 232 and AF di than 23 70 the the ware e yed 37 taxo NSS is - That so F. SECRET OBD Lown: Regraded Unclassified SECRET ECRET Copy o 2 of 12 Copies. 080 NAVY DEPARTMENT Office of the Chief of Naval Operations WASHINGTON It is requested that this document be burned us coun us it hua surved its purpose and that in the meantime It not be placed in any general file. Japanese Naval Aotivities Sumary as of 0800, 28 October 1943. I. Southwestern Pacific Area (A) Solomon Islends Photographa the morning of 25 October revealed a total of 18 Jap planes at Kahili - Shortland - Ballale. 20 barges and 2 small orait were in the same area and in Tonolei Harbor were 2 AK's, 20 barges, 14 amall craft and 1 PC. That afternoon 11 planes, 9 of them burned or damaged, wore photographed at Kara. Pictures showed the runway at Bellale unfit for service, half of the Kahili runway unfit for service and the Kara runway in good shape. The morning of 20 October, off Green Island, N. of Buka, 3 small Jap AX's were attacked by a U. S. patrol plane. 2 of the vessels were set afire and the other was besohed. The samo day Buka airfield was hit by 3/4 of a ton of borba from a RAAF Beaufort. No results wero observed. Inaccurate A/A fire was encountered. That night, Allied forces made a landing on Treasury Island, S. of Bougainville. The troopa were met with mortar fire which was silenced after some casualties had been suffered. On 27 October between 100 and 200 Japs were reported to mile NW of Sengigai, SM central Choiseul, and many were said to be in the Choiseul Bay area whence evacuation was probably begun by the eneny on 20 October. About noon, 28 October, a patrolling U. s. plane bombed a warehouse in the harbor area at Green Island. No results were observed. (B) New Ireland Early the morning of 26 October Kavieng airfield was raided by 3 PBY's wiich d ropped more than 5 tons of bombs and incendiaries. N/A fire, mostly inacourate, was encountered. No results were observed. That afternoon, in the Hanover area, 3 Jap convoys were sighted. (c) New Britain At noon, 26 Octobor, Lakunai airfield at Rabaul was attacked by 61 fighter-oscorted B-24's, 43 of which dropped more than 118 tone of bombs from a high level. 21 Jap planes were destroyed on the 6 round, 23 moro were probably destroyed on the ground and installations were damaged. About 70 Jap fighters intercepted and of these 37 were destroyed and 20 more were probably shot down. All but 1 of our planes returned safely although a number were damaged. The same day Garove Ialand was twice raided by single B-24's. No results were observed. A/A fire was encountered. That night, 30 miles W. 203(3) SECRET 1 and OBD 10than Regraded Unclassified SECRET of Ubili, NE New Britain, a PBY reported near misses scored on 2 of 3 Jap DD's (D) New Guinea On 26 October Jap planes bombed the runway and vicinity at Kiriwina, causing some casualties and some demage. The same day a patrolling B-24 dropped a ton of bomba on Tolokiwa Island, E. of Long Island. No results wore observed. Allied ground foroes maintained contact with the enemy NW of Finschhafen on 26 October. (E) N. E.I. At noon 26 October Pomelaa, Celebes, was raided by 4 undor escort of 6 RAAF Beaufighters. 10 tons of bombs wore dropped by the heavies and the fighter strafed and dropped 3/4 of a ton of bombs on shipping and villages in the area. 10 Jap planes intercepted and 1 was destroyed and another damaged. Two B-24's were lost. A/A fire encountered was inaccurate. That afternoon villages in the S. Aroe Ialands were bombed by 6 Dutch B-25's escorted by 6 Beaufighters. Over 4 tons of bombs and incendiaries were dropped with unobserved results. II. U. s. Submarine Reports. A U.S. SS reports damaging a large Jap AP. R. A. Boone. DISTRIBUTION, Copy No. 1 - COMINCH Copy No. 2 - NAVAL AIDE Copy No. 3 - F-1 (Plans) Copy No. 4 - SECNAV Copy No. 5 - Op-16 Copy No. 6 - Op-16-FA-1 Copy No. 7 - US JIC Copy No. 8 - MID Copy No. 9 - MID Copy No. 10 - MID Copy No. 11 - Op-20-GI Copy No. 12 - FILE. SEQRE 08D LOUSSCALT Regraded Unclassified SECRET S ECRET Copy No. 2 of 12 Copies. QSD NAVY DEPARTMENT Office of the Chief of Naval Operations WASHINGTON It la requested that this document be burned as soon as it has served its Japanese Naval Activities purpose and that in the meantime it Sumpary as of 0800, 27 October 1943rot be placed in any general file. I. Southwestern Pacific Area (A) Solomon Islends On 23 October Kakasa, Choiseul, was strafed by 3 flights of 2 B-34's. The results were not observed. Very early the morning of 24 October off the WNW coast of Choisoul, 11 F4U's strafed 11 Jap barges, leaving 4 of then in flames. During the morning of 24 October, Kahili was thrice attacked by Allied planes. First 19 B-24's under escort of 10 F4U'a and 4 P-38's dropped 76 tons of bombs on the runway and repair areas with excellent results. Despite heavy N/A fire, all our planes returned sofely. Noxt the target was attacked by 47 SBD's and 22 TBF's covered by 16 P-39's, 8 F4U's and 4 Over 45 tons of bombs were dropped and a number of hits scored including 1 on 5 planes parked on the runway. Fires were also started. All our planea returned safely although the pilot of 1 SBD was wounded by the intense N/A fire encountered. Finally, the Kahili runway and revetment ares was attacked by 36 B-25's under escort of 28 P-40's. These planos dropped 44 tons of bombs. All our planes returned safely but 3 were damaged by N/A fire and 1 man was killed. None of these missions was intercepted by Jap planos and only 29 enemy planes were photographed in the general area about the time of the first attack. That afternoon the S. coast of Treasury Island, s. of Bougainville, was raided by 3 unescorted B-34's. No results were reported. No Japs were seen along the SN coast. That night, about 45 miles i. of Cape Henpan, Buka, a patrolling PBY bombed 2 ships and some barges. No results wero obsorved. The morning of 25 October Ballale was attacked by 31 SHD's and 18 TBF's covered by 28 F4U's and 12 P-40's. Hits were scored throughout the target and 1 SBD. scored a direct hit on a grounded Jap bomber and 3 A/A positions. The runway, partially repaired since previous raids, was again rendered unfit for service. Many Jap casualties were observed. There was no enemy interception and all our planes veturned safely although 2 were damaged. Before dawn, 26 October, about 15 miles E. of Teop Harbor, NE Bougainville, a patrolling PBY attacked 2 Jap DD's and reported a direct hit on 1. (B) Baker Island On 23 October, about 58 miles S. of Baker Island, a Jap 4 engined flying boat was destroyed by U.S. Army fighters. 203(3) SEORET 3-78 OBD Sagast Regraded Unclassified RET SEORE (c) New Ireland - New Britain The aftornoon of 24 October, about 50 miles E. by s. of Lorengau, Admiralty Islands, a B-24 attacked a amall coastal vessel. No resulte were observed. That night, in Rein Bay. a PBY dropped 1 500 lb. and 1 250 1b. bomb on Jap N/A positiona. Some N/A fire was encountered. No resulta were observed. The following day, Unea Island, Vitu group, was raided by a B-24 which dropped a ton of bomba on the jetty with unobaerved results. (D) New Quinea The night of 23 October Allied PT's destroyed 2 Jap barges in Vitias Strait and scored hits on an enemy SS 42 miles SE of Finschhafen. The noxt day, 8 B-25's bombed and strafed the Alexishafen runway, silencing N/A positions and starting fires in the dump and disporsal areas. The samo day villages, trails and Jap positions N. of Satelburg were bombed and strafed by 9 low flying A-20's which dropped nearly 4 tone of tombs. On 24 October 4 Jap attacke on Allied positions N. of Finschhafen were repulsed. Counted enemy dead in the ares since 17 October now number 525. The morning of 25 October 7 Jap planes bombed Langemak Bay- Somo casualties and demage were reported. The somo day, 10 miles N. of Finschhafen along the Masaweng Rivor and at Lakona, on the coast S. of the river mouth, Jap positions were subjected to low-level bombing and strafing by 9 A-20's which dropped over 4 tons of bombs. Also the Alexishafen aroa was attacked by 17 B-25'a which dropped over 15 tons of bonba and shelled and strafed villages, dispersal aroas and supply dumps. Some N/A positions were silenced and a number of fires started. A/A fire was enccuntered, but all our planes returned safely. That afternoon, about 53 miles E. of Wewak, a patrolling B-24 damaged a Jap sea truck. area The ground situation 25 October in the Finschhafen found Allied artillery shelling enery positions NK of Satelburg. (E) N. E. I. At midday 25 October Manolowari was raided by 3 B-24's which dropped over 2 tons of bomba and incendiaries on the building aroa, starting a number of fires. The same day Japoro village, near Timiku, was reided by 3 RAAF A-29's. Moro than a ton of bombs wore dropped and fires started. R. A. Boone. DISTRIBUTI( ON: Copy No. 1 - com NCH Copy No. 7 - US JIC Copy No. 2 - NAVAL AIDE Copy No. 8 - MID Copy No. 3 - F-1 (Plans) Copy No. 9 - MID Copy No. 4 - SECNAV Copy No. 10 - MID Copy No. 5 - Op-16 Copy No. 11 - Op-20-GI Copy No. 6 - Op-16-FA-1 Copy No. 12 - FILE. SECRET BECRET SECRET OBD Copy 2 of 12 Copies. NAVY DEPARTMENT office of the Chief of Naval Operations to ASHINGTON Lob 46 intib It is requested that this document be burned as soon as it has served ite MA purpose and that in the meantime it not be placed in any general file. Japanose Naval Activities Summary as of 0800, 26 October 1943. Allind patrol I. Northsrestern Pacific Area The afternoon of 24 October, about 210 miles N. of Attu, a B-24 encountered a Jap modium bomber. During the ensuing 20 minutes the U.S. plane made 6 passes at the Jap plane scoring hits beforo the contact was broken. Our plane was undemaged. II. Southwestern Pacifio Aros (A) Solomon Islands Later details revoal that the attack on Kahili by 12 B-24's under escort of 16 P-40'a, reported in the Surcary of 25 October as having occurred on 23 October, took plane on 22 October. The attack on the coast of Choisoul by 9 B-24's also took place on 22 October instead of 23 October as previously reported. Kahili was also attacked the morning of 22 October by 48 SBD's and 24 TBF's under escort of 24 F6F's, 24 F4U's and 20 P-39's. A/A positions, 2 grounded Jap bombers and a control tower were destroyed. 1 Jap fighter 178.6 shot down by s P-39. Photographs later in the day showed the field unservice- able. Also on the morning of 22 October, Poroporo N. Choiseul was raided by 9 8-24°s under escort of 12 F4U's. The morning of 23 October, Kara was attacked by 24 SBD's and 18 TBF's under escort of 24 F4F's, 20 P-39's and 16 P-40. Over 33 tons of bomba were dropped. A direct hit on an N/A position and hits on the runway were scored. Deapite intense A/A fire all our planes returned safely. Shortly after the Mara attack 11 B-24's escorted by 16 P-38's, dropped 44 tons of bomba on Kahili. N/A fire was inacourate and all our planes returned safely. 2 hours later Kahili was again attacked. This time by 6 B-24's escorted by 8 F4F's and 8 F4U's, dropping 24 tons of bombs. N/A fire was inaccurate and all our planes returned safely. That afternoon Kara was attacked for the second time that day. 24 SBD's and 18 TBF's, escorted by 19 P-38's and 16 P-40'a, dropped 30 tona of bomba scoring hite on 4 A/A positions and an anmunition dump. Heavy N/A fire encounterod. All the fighters returned safely but 1 SBD was downed by N/A fire, the pilot parachuting. That night, E. of Tinputs Bay, a B-24 scored a noar miss on a Jap double barge. (B) Greenwich Island The forenoon of 23 October, on the ST. side of Groenwich Island, en Allied patrol plane bombed and strafed a small Jap AK or tender leaving -2- SECRET LED 5-3-14 203(3) S ECRET