Five days of fierce air battles have occured over both Lunga and Lae. My fighters and bombers have apparently shut the airfield down at Guadalcanal. Today for the first time since I can remember, no Japanese fighters rose to greet my strikes. I do not intend to stop bombing Lunga until I see a white flag over the airfield. I will lose no more ships to the Japanese there. I believe that the strikes against their supply base have been extremely effective. Combined Fleet has once again tried to push unescorted transports through. I battered them for the last two days as they moved through Ironbottom sound from the air, sinking several. Once they arrived off of Lunga my submarines finished off at least two transports. A second transport group headed down the slot was also ravaged by bombers out of Vila. All in all a good day hunting in the Solomons.
Over Lae my fighter coverage has been so effective that Imperial bombers have again started bombing at night. The army-air pilots have reported scores of enemy fighters downed over the jungles of New Guinea, confirmed kills have been naturally less. Either way a intense battle of attrition through the air is underway.
My heavy bombers continue to turn Finchhafen into a no man's land. How effective they are is unknown, but the carpet bombing will continue until my marines make their landings at New Britain and I can cut their supplies off. After that I will visit the area every other day or so. I already have PTs patroling the sealanes, so far no contacts.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
17 February 1943
CINCSoPac/SWPac
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Rob Roberson
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17 February 1943
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Rob Roberson
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18 February 1943
Early this morning there were more night raiders from Kavieng at Lae. They arent doing a lot of damage, unless you count the lack of sleep and shattered nerves of the crews at the airfields there. I do wish I could put up fighters to catch them, but it is too hit and miss to risk my pilots.
Worse on my crews is the continuing problem of enemy infiltrators attacking the airfield. The Japanese continue to lob the occasional mortar or grenade at the airfield. There is not a large concentration of troops coming down on the field. Rather, just enough to keep the troops at Lae on edge. My army forces sweep the jungle daily, but they continue to slip into the perimeter. The jungle is proving to be the enemy's greatest ally. Between the cover it is providing the infiltrators and the disease that is wearing down the troops. It is a messy place to fight a battle.
My PTs jumped a couple of enemy transports off of Guadalcanal last night. Probably the most successful patrol for them since I can remember. They sank one big Japanese transport and heavily damaged once (with three torpedo hits).
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
18 February 1943
Worse on my crews is the continuing problem of enemy infiltrators attacking the airfield. The Japanese continue to lob the occasional mortar or grenade at the airfield. There is not a large concentration of troops coming down on the field. Rather, just enough to keep the troops at Lae on edge. My army forces sweep the jungle daily, but they continue to slip into the perimeter. The jungle is proving to be the enemy's greatest ally. Between the cover it is providing the infiltrators and the disease that is wearing down the troops. It is a messy place to fight a battle.
My PTs jumped a couple of enemy transports off of Guadalcanal last night. Probably the most successful patrol for them since I can remember. They sank one big Japanese transport and heavily damaged once (with three torpedo hits).
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
18 February 1943
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Rob Roberson
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19 February 1943
A strange report today from my heavy and medium pilots at Port Moresby. In today's raid at Finschhafen they reported seeing a Japanese aircraft carrier (debriefings say it was the Akagi) anchored offshore sans any aircraft on her flight decks. Unfortunetly, the bombers had already dumped their loads over Finschhafen and could only strafe the flat top. If true (which I doubt army fliers have shown time and time again the inabilty to tell ships apart) it would be stunning. Akagi was on a list of ships believed to of been smashed at Midway. Only time and a return visit from my bombers will tell.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
19 February 1943
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
19 February 1943
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Rob Roberson
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24 February 1943
Five days have past since an entry here. Honestly, until last night there wasn't much new to report as the entire area has become rather routine. My bombers fly off in the morning, pound various targets in the area and return home. I control the skies in and around both Guadalcanal and New Guinea. Anything that leaks through my submarine and air umbrella off Guadalcanal, doesn't get back out again. Up until this morning no Japanese planes even rose out of Lunga to greet my incoming bombers. Today three did and were promptly flamed by escorting P-38s. The battle for the South Pacific has become a bloody contest between air forces and I clearly have the upper hand.
My airbase at Vila finally drew unwanted attention. For the past two days I had sent bombers from there against the ports of the Shortlands. Early this morning a huge Japanese surface armada led by the Yamato pounded the airfield, lobbying 18 inch shells againt the matted field. On their way in the Japanese caught and sank USS Phelps as well as a pair of transports who were anchored off Vila. All in all, a terrifying night for my crews there. My intelligence believes that the Yamato battlegroup is continuing down the slot. I hope so. Anything to put them in range of my bombers at Irau, San Cristobal. The airfield at Vila suffered moderate damage.
When this war is over heaps of praise will be given to the brave undersea warriors of the Navy. Almost nothing is said about their actions in this war, but believe me, the Japanese are feeling their effects. The list of enemy shipping that is being sunk by my submarines is beyond impressive. How the enemy continues to be able to supply his forward postions escapes me. The submarines are literally killing his supply lines.
My Marine Raiders are due to land at Umboi in about 30 hours. The 6th and 7th Marine Regiment will follow with a landing at Gasmata soon after that. Japanese incursions against the airfield at Lae have rendered it out of action leaving 40 B-17s trapped. If this works as I hope, the supply lines for all Japanese troops at Finschafen and Lae will be completely cut.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
24 February 1943
My airbase at Vila finally drew unwanted attention. For the past two days I had sent bombers from there against the ports of the Shortlands. Early this morning a huge Japanese surface armada led by the Yamato pounded the airfield, lobbying 18 inch shells againt the matted field. On their way in the Japanese caught and sank USS Phelps as well as a pair of transports who were anchored off Vila. All in all, a terrifying night for my crews there. My intelligence believes that the Yamato battlegroup is continuing down the slot. I hope so. Anything to put them in range of my bombers at Irau, San Cristobal. The airfield at Vila suffered moderate damage.
When this war is over heaps of praise will be given to the brave undersea warriors of the Navy. Almost nothing is said about their actions in this war, but believe me, the Japanese are feeling their effects. The list of enemy shipping that is being sunk by my submarines is beyond impressive. How the enemy continues to be able to supply his forward postions escapes me. The submarines are literally killing his supply lines.
My Marine Raiders are due to land at Umboi in about 30 hours. The 6th and 7th Marine Regiment will follow with a landing at Gasmata soon after that. Japanese incursions against the airfield at Lae have rendered it out of action leaving 40 B-17s trapped. If this works as I hope, the supply lines for all Japanese troops at Finschafen and Lae will be completely cut.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
24 February 1943
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Rob Roberson
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25 February 1943
Top Secret
From: CINCPAC
To: CINCSWSOPAC
Re: CINCPAC visit to South Pacific
CINCPAC is proceeding to your headquarters via USS Essex and her escorts. Expected to arrive in 12 days.
From: CINCPAC
To: CINCSWSOPAC
Re: CINCPAC visit to South Pacific
CINCPAC is proceeding to your headquarters via USS Essex and her escorts. Expected to arrive in 12 days.
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Rob Roberson
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1 March 1943
Edson's Marine Raiders have taken Umboi on schedule. The island was unoccupied. I have already embarked Navy Seabees for the island where they will convert it into a small fighter strip.
The 6th and 7th Marine regiments were due to land at Gasmata tomorrow. I will delay that landing by a day to give the army another day to soften up the troops there. Recon is reporting up to ten thousand Japanese troops in and around Gasmata. Needless to say I am being a bit more cautious.
My land based air at Vila continues to chew up enemy shipping. Today they struck a small destroyer group trying to force it's way into Guadalcanal, no doubt full of supplies. When the Bombers left they reported two destroyers afire.
I continue to be dogged by my lack of transport capacity. I am paying a heavy price for the many losses early in this campaign. I hope when Admiral Nimitz makes his visit he will agree to release to me more transports. It is hampering my abilty to move the thousands of troops sitting in both Noumea and Australia to the front lines and forcing me to use measured land strikes as opposed to an all out campaign now that I believe the enemy is on the ropes.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
1 March 1943
The 6th and 7th Marine regiments were due to land at Gasmata tomorrow. I will delay that landing by a day to give the army another day to soften up the troops there. Recon is reporting up to ten thousand Japanese troops in and around Gasmata. Needless to say I am being a bit more cautious.
My land based air at Vila continues to chew up enemy shipping. Today they struck a small destroyer group trying to force it's way into Guadalcanal, no doubt full of supplies. When the Bombers left they reported two destroyers afire.
I continue to be dogged by my lack of transport capacity. I am paying a heavy price for the many losses early in this campaign. I hope when Admiral Nimitz makes his visit he will agree to release to me more transports. It is hampering my abilty to move the thousands of troops sitting in both Noumea and Australia to the front lines and forcing me to use measured land strikes as opposed to an all out campaign now that I believe the enemy is on the ropes.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
1 March 1943
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Rob Roberson
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4 March 1943
Marines from the 6th and 7th Regiments landed at Gasmata this morning. They waded ashore unopposed, though I am sure the Japanese intend to contest this landing. 3 strikes of Bettys hit hit the invasion force to prove that point. USS Idaho took a torpedo in the initial strike, but the Army claimed 18 kills of Bettys over Gasmata. Idaho will limp home, just another battleship damaged under my care. No doubt Nimitz will make that the topic of several meetings when he arrives with Essex.
My bombers continue to hammer the entire Gasmata area, which could be the reason there has been very little resistance to the landing. The Army has done a fine job of preparing the area for invasion.
Around the Solomons the Japanese Navy continues to feel the wrath of my Naval and Army air forces. Over the last 2 days they have claimed to hit at least 5 destroyers (damaging 2 heavily) off of Bougainville. I have little doubt that the destroyers were ferrying more troops to New Georgia.
Off Lunga, my PT command suffered several losses in a duel with at least 1 cruiser and 3 or 4 destroyers. The daylight battle lasted about 30 minutes. The commander of the PTs says they did hit the cruiser with a torpedo, bu there is no confirmation of that.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
4 March 1943
My bombers continue to hammer the entire Gasmata area, which could be the reason there has been very little resistance to the landing. The Army has done a fine job of preparing the area for invasion.
Around the Solomons the Japanese Navy continues to feel the wrath of my Naval and Army air forces. Over the last 2 days they have claimed to hit at least 5 destroyers (damaging 2 heavily) off of Bougainville. I have little doubt that the destroyers were ferrying more troops to New Georgia.
Off Lunga, my PT command suffered several losses in a duel with at least 1 cruiser and 3 or 4 destroyers. The daylight battle lasted about 30 minutes. The commander of the PTs says they did hit the cruiser with a torpedo, bu there is no confirmation of that.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
4 March 1943
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Rob Roberson
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6 March 1943
Two days of bitter fighting in and around Gasmata has left my Marines pressing ever closer to the Japanese airfield. The Japanese are well fortified at the base here and fighting bravely, but my heavy bombers have exacted a heavy toll on their fortifications and more often then not my Marines are facing shattered units who fling theirselves at us piecemeal only to be cut down. The Japanese have proven to me at both Lae and now here that they are the masters of the night. More times then not they infiltrate our lines in the cover our darkness only to be driven back by the light of day. They are well dug in here, but I believe that we can force our way to the airfield within a day or two.
I have ordered the 1st Marine regiment to board transports at Moresby where they have been resting. Should the 6th and 7th begin to falter I will order them into Gasmata.
My covering fighters fought off 3 Nells over the invasion force this morning. It was the first air attack we had seen over Gasmata since the army claimed to of downed 18 Bettys. I hope it is a sign that the Japanese airpower over New Guinea has been broken, though that is a cautionary hope. Everytime I think I have the enemy defeated he reaches out a stings me yet again.
USS Essex and her escorts are due at Noumea tomorrow. I hope to present Cincpac (who I still believe is aboard) with a victory at Gasmata when he arrives.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
6 March 1943
I have ordered the 1st Marine regiment to board transports at Moresby where they have been resting. Should the 6th and 7th begin to falter I will order them into Gasmata.
My covering fighters fought off 3 Nells over the invasion force this morning. It was the first air attack we had seen over Gasmata since the army claimed to of downed 18 Bettys. I hope it is a sign that the Japanese airpower over New Guinea has been broken, though that is a cautionary hope. Everytime I think I have the enemy defeated he reaches out a stings me yet again.
USS Essex and her escorts are due at Noumea tomorrow. I hope to present Cincpac (who I still believe is aboard) with a victory at Gasmata when he arrives.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
6 March 1943
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Rob Roberson
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7 March 1943
Admiral Nimitz and the USS Essex arrived late this evening. His staff immediately met with mine and praised the overall conduct of our campaign here in the South Pacific.
CINCPAC joined us about an hour later, (after distributing boxes of medals to sailors and marines just returning from the various combat missions in this area) and echoed his staff's praise. Admiral Nimitz did take us to task for the piecemeal use of our Battleships. Overall Cincpac seem pleased with our reduction of the Japanese air power despite the lack of fleet carriers under our command. When I pursued the lack of transports in theatre and how it was hamstringing our ground operations, I was told there was a major build up of transports at Pearl, but they would be used in the forthcoming Central Pacific campaign and I would have to make do with what we had.
Nimitz told us we had broken the Japanese backs here on our shoestring budget of men and equipment. Because we had proven we could do so much with so little, we would have to make due with scraps as the focus of the war shifted to the Central Pacific. He also approved of our operation at Gasmata and the isolation of troops in New Guinea. He said he and his staff had reached a similiar strategy for operations in the Central Pacific..."islanding hoping" he called it. The meeting adjourned at 3 am. We are scheduled to meet with Cincpac in the morning and then he is planning to ride USS Idaho back to Pearl.
Fighting continues in Gasmata as my Marines edge ever closer to the Japanese airfield there. Another day, maybe two and I think the place will fall. After that I will concentrate efforts on Bougainville. At one point I had argued for an invasion of Shortlands, I now think I will bypass it in favor of landing at Buin and or Buka. Again cutting off major concentrations of Japanese.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
7 March 1943
CINCPAC joined us about an hour later, (after distributing boxes of medals to sailors and marines just returning from the various combat missions in this area) and echoed his staff's praise. Admiral Nimitz did take us to task for the piecemeal use of our Battleships. Overall Cincpac seem pleased with our reduction of the Japanese air power despite the lack of fleet carriers under our command. When I pursued the lack of transports in theatre and how it was hamstringing our ground operations, I was told there was a major build up of transports at Pearl, but they would be used in the forthcoming Central Pacific campaign and I would have to make do with what we had.
Nimitz told us we had broken the Japanese backs here on our shoestring budget of men and equipment. Because we had proven we could do so much with so little, we would have to make due with scraps as the focus of the war shifted to the Central Pacific. He also approved of our operation at Gasmata and the isolation of troops in New Guinea. He said he and his staff had reached a similiar strategy for operations in the Central Pacific..."islanding hoping" he called it. The meeting adjourned at 3 am. We are scheduled to meet with Cincpac in the morning and then he is planning to ride USS Idaho back to Pearl.
Fighting continues in Gasmata as my Marines edge ever closer to the Japanese airfield there. Another day, maybe two and I think the place will fall. After that I will concentrate efforts on Bougainville. At one point I had argued for an invasion of Shortlands, I now think I will bypass it in favor of landing at Buin and or Buka. Again cutting off major concentrations of Japanese.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
7 March 1943
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Rob Roberson
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Intermission
Sorry about the long delay without explanation. As many know I work for a college football team. For some unexplainable reason, we started winning 
. Needless to say this unbelievable occurance caused my workload to increase, because the more coaches win, the more they want to. . Unfortunetly there are only so many hours in a day and needless to say, UV is 5th in my life behind, the wife, the kid, food and things we do with the wife . We are now preparing for our final opponant, and after that game I will once again be able to dazzle you all with my inepitude against the AI. See you guys soon.
Rob
. Needless to say this unbelievable occurance caused my workload to increase, because the more coaches win, the more they want to. . Unfortunetly there are only so many hours in a day and needless to say, UV is 5th in my life behind, the wife, the kid, food and things we do with the wife . We are now preparing for our final opponant, and after that game I will once again be able to dazzle you all with my inepitude against the AI. See you guys soon.Rob
