AIR RAIDS ON LAE, SALAMUA, NEW BRITAIN AND RABAUL: SWP WWII Reel 6 · Part 1

Description

Summary: Low and medium level attacks (bombing and strafing) on Japanese air and ground installations in New Guinea and New Britain made by B-24s of the 90th Group and B-25s, A-20s and P-38s of the 499th, 501st and 61st Squadrons. Reel 1 B-26s (Marauders), A-20s, B-24s and B-25s with P-4os as escort, fly in formation over New Guinea coastline to raid Lae and Finschhafen, New Guinea, and Borgen Bay, New Britain [Quality: Good]. Reel 2: B-25s of 499th Squadron fly over the Owen Stanley Range to raid Lae and Salamaua [Quality: Good]. Reel: 3 A-20s and B-25s strafe and bomb from low level at Lao and Cape Gloucester in support of amphibious landing. They also attack coastal shipping in the area. P-38s fly cover as the B-25s attack the Japanese installation at Dagua Air Field, Wewak [Quality: Good]. Reel: 4 Low level strafing, by B-25s of the 499th Squadron, on a raid at Rabaul. Also bombing of targets, air drome and coastal foftifications by the 61st Squadron in the Rabaul area [Quality: Good]. Reel 5: Continuation of the Rabaul raid. Aircraft of the 501st Squadron are shown returning to base escorted by P-38s. Camera follows "Dirty Dora," a B-25, during the attack on Rabaul installations. Landing, taxiing and crew personality shots are shown as the B-24s of the 90th Group (Jolly Rogers -- Skull and Cross Bones Insignia) return after the raid on Rabaul and New Britain. A/G shots of Wewak bombing are also included [Quality: Good]. Reel 6: Gen. George Kenney inspects front line airstrips in New Guinea, Included are scenes of the 90th Squadron B-25s striking Cape Gloucester. An A-20, named "Maid in Japan," of the 90th Group, 5th AF, in formation with B-24s and other A-20s makes bomb run on Cape Gloucester. The planes peel off from the mass formation to attack [Quality: Good]. Reel 7: A/A shot C-47s in formation over New Guinea jungles. B-25s parked on an unidentified American airstrip in New Guinea. B-25s of the 501st Squadron strafe, bomb and drop parafrags on the installations at Salamaua, Cape Gloucester, and a Japanese airfield in area. B-24s in formation over Owen Stanley Range. B-24 named "The Mayflower," and crew on ramp after mission. Air crew briefing at front line airstrip in New Guinea. Ground crews work on parked B-24s at a front line installation. B-24s of 90th Group bomb Lae [Quality: Good]. Reel 8: B-24s make air strike on Buka airstrip. A B-24, named "Joan G," is shown in formation. Good

Collection

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities