February 9, 1943
SoPac: IJN cruiser TF north north east of Ndeni vanishes. The skies are quiet over New Caledonia today. Luganville goes to AF-7.
SwPac: IJN tankers spotted. Maybe AOs? Curious if carriers are entering the Coral Sea again. Night raids by B25s miss at Lae. Recon over PM shows over 14,ooo troops now. The decision is getting easier. Some squadrons of B25s stage back to northern fields to resume offensive operations. RAAF squadrons are either in late model P40s or Spitfires now. I have some Aussies sitting outside an empty Daly Waters with an IJA flag flying above the post office. The western desert remains quiet. USS Washington begins a quick two week refit as the Fletchers finish up their first.
Burma: The IJA force moving north from central Burma is getting larger as three more units join the IJA armor.
China: I need the IJA to lose a battle and bleed some, the Chinese are hurting.
