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14 May 1942

Flexing newfound muscle, the Allies yesterday increased the pressure on enemy positions off the north coast of Australia when yet more Hudson and Martin bombers out of Derby dropped their lethal loads on the airfield at Koepang on Timor Island, further decreasing Japanese ability to function out of that base.

The result of the Koepang bombing run:

Another raid out of Darwin that evening by B-17s was even more successful. Said Major Theobald of the American bomber group, "Our intelligence indicates that Koepang has been completely shut down to air operations."

Another night raid from Port Moresby caught the Japanese unaware and caused significant damage to the port of Rabaul on New Britain Island in the Bismarck archipelago. Fires and destruction reigned in both the port and on the several airfields at that enemy base. Authorities said three squadrons of B-17s participated in this attack.

Reports from commanders on the scene said this raid was only the beginning of a concentrated effort to reduce the base of Rabaul until it was no longer useful to the enemy.

[:(]

I read these AARs and realise just how many ships I have needless cast into the abyss in my own game compared to everybody else.

I'm only just behind the Allies in losses and you are three months ahead on me. [:(] And for apparently little reward.

Sources added that the strength of the B-17 force at Port Moresby was being increased to two full bomber groups.

In other news from the front, the American troop transport Hunter Liggett was hit by two torpedos two hundred miles west of Suva, an important American base in the Fiji Islands. No word was available on casualties or the condition of this stricken vessel.

According to reports, the Japanese submarine that attacked Hunter Liggett yesterday, identified as I-10, was in turn found and subsequently sunk by two American destroyers serving as escorts for the convoy.

16 May 1942

The air campaign continued yesterday with Allied bombers hitting Koepang, Amboina, Rabaul and Lunga. At Koepang, enemy shipping in the harbor was said to have been damaged. The Japanese have responded with night attacks on Darwin, Port Moresby and Luganville, but with little effect.

Allied authorities expressed guarded optimism that should the situation continue to improve at the current pace, a general offensive against the enemy might be able to commence as early as this summer.

According to officials, intercepts of enemy radio traffic leads them to believe that the Japanese freighter Taigen Maru has sunk due to damage inflicted by Allied bombers a few days ago.

17 May 1942

Officials indicated that the bombing campaign by B-17s based at Port Moresby is causing increased damage to the enemy on Rabaul.

18 May 1942

The continual pressure applied over the last few days by B-17 bombers based at Port Moresby has forced the Japanese to evacuate its air force from Rabaul. Authorities indicated that the bombing campaign will continue until Rabaul has been neutralized and so is no longer a suitable base for enemy activity.

At Darwin, B-17s again struck out at Amboina. Results were estimated to be beneficial.

In the Andaman Islands, a flight of Swordfish caught a Japanese destroyer between Rangoon and Moulmein and managed one hit on the enemy vessel.

Exact damage to this Japanese destroyer, said to be Yamagumo, is not known but it was seen to retreat with fire aboard.

19 May 1942

The air defense of Darwin had a field day when swarms of Japanese bombers attacked without fighter escort.

None of the enemy planes got through to do any damage, and their losses were said to be high.

In other news, Hudsons and Martins out of Derby and Wyndham again struck hard at the Koepang port and airfields. One transport in the harbor was hit with at least two bombs. All the Allied planes returned safely.