Bettys in the sky with diamonds- Gladiatt (A) vs John_Smid (J). No John please

[rtrapasso]

gladiatt:

Really, i meant what i said when i thought you were doing well... it is mid April and you are still holding Singapore, much of Java, almost all of Sumatra, much of Burma, and the PI still holds out... most Allied player have lost all of this (and more) by this point.

[gladiatt]

Hello dear readers.
Sorry for the dealy in writing this AAR: i have an exam to prepare and it ask a lot of time !
I will try to update before end of january, but not sure.
My exam have several days, the last is 19th january, so if you can wait until this time?


To Bob: thanks for advice, for reading, and for kind words. I know you meant what you said.
But i have sometimes feelings of despair when i see the situation; and sometimes i have no patience for my incoming reinforcements ( having to wait October 1942 for the P-38, first planes to really match the japs, seems in a eternity !).

Anyway, i will try to continue this AAR and make it as entertaining as possible for my readers. Don't hesitate to ask for something (if you want a particular map or screeny, if you have a question, and so on).
I will be back on January 20 at the latest.
Happy new year to all men of good will on earth.

[gladiatt]

AAR is back !! I am going to make two big updates in order to catch up with the game.

18th April 1942 - 24th April 1942

NoPac
On 20th april, near Anchorage, MSW Oriole hunt the SS I-28 all day long, attacking 3 times, and avoiding a torpedo, but as the day fall, luck fail to the little ship: I-28 sunk it with 2 torpedo in the night of the 21th.

SoPac
New Guinea
The japanese launch sweeps on Port Moresby on 18th and 19th april, destroying 7 kittyhawk for no losses [:(] .
My raids on Gili Gili between 19th and 21th april manage to destroy 2 zero on ground, loosing 4 kittyhawk escorting my Boston.
On 22th april, 21 kittyhawk sweep Gili Gili, facing 18 zero and 17 oscar; both side suffers losses: 6 allied planes for 4 japaneses.
The same day, 64 betty raid Port Moresby without opposition, causing 105 casualties, and scoring 2 hits on port, 2 on supply; 5 betty are downed by flak !
On 23th april, a new sweep of 23 zero destroy 10 of the 19 kittyhawk on CAP, loosing only 2 zeros. 75 RAAF squadron is so depleted that i must send it back to Townsville.
In the afternoon, a raid of 44 betty face no opposition, and sore 5 supply hits.
On 24th april, a raid of 16 wirraways and 23 boston is launched against Gili Gili, but the 30 japanese fighters on CAP slaughter me: 9 wirraways and 8 boston are destroyed.

New Caledonia and else
On 19th april, SS I-20 score a torpedo hit against DD Mahan just north of New Zealand; the DD reach Auckland for repair.

Raids on Luganville all week long. Zero escorting bettys try to sink my AK unloading supplies in the base; they face P-39 of 8th FG.





The result of the week is 2 zero and 3 betty destroyed for 11 Airacobra, 4 catalina (on ground), 6 AK are hits, 1 sunk; damages are also inflicted on the base but my EAB in the base repair as quickly as the jap does damages.
On 20th april, south of Effate, SS I-7 sunk one more AK.

CHINA
18th april, japs CAPTURE SINING ; 4 chineses corps, 2 HQ and 2 base force surrenders: 14300 mens and 85 guns, for 2000 japaneses casualties.

On 20th april, a great japanese withdrawal occur at Changsa: of the 22 units besieging the place few days before, only 5 divisions stay there. Where are going the 17 others units ??

PI
On 19th april, the japanese launch an attack at Clark Field, dropping forts to level 3; 1200 japanese casualties for 2100 allied. The place is under constant aerial bombing.
After attacks on 20th and 21th, the japs CAPTURE CLARK on 21th april. All allied units retreat toward Bataan.
San Marcelino become the new target for the japaneses planes.

MALAYA
Singapore suffer 400 japanese airsorties. 4 japaneses planes are downed

DEI
Soerebaja
The place sustain 340 air sorties, 8 japaneses planes are downed.
The town is shelled by the 3 japanese divisions besieging. An assaut is repulsed on 19th april (500 japs casualties and 650 dutch), and another on 21th april (800 japs casualties and 500 dutch).

Batavia
The japs sweep the base several times, and also raid it, in order to sink my AK trying to sneak toward Singapore: 6 of my 8 AK are heavily damaged and dock in emergency at Batavia. 4 sink in the next days and attacks. Zero are also straffing to destroy my PT Boats. 2 of the 3 remaining are sunked. Dutch losses are 9 fighters, for 6 japaneses.

Koepang is sweeped on 19th april by 27 zero, wipping all my 5 brewster on CAP here.

BURMA
20th april, 9 Wellington attack Pagan, but the encounter with 60 japaneses fighters turn bloody, 4 british planes are destroyed.

22th april, near Ceylon, SS I-153 try to hurt some brits MSW, miss them, and escape their counterstike.
22th april, East of Mandalay, Jap 1st Tk Regmt try to dislodge the 3 chinese divisions holding the road to Lashio, without success. The chinese counter attack on 23 th april also fail.
The same day, in order to protect the flank of my Burma forces, beggin the airlift of the 45th indian brigade from Dacca to Akyab.

On 23th april, another jap sub is spotted near Trincomalee. 3 british MSW harass him, and MSW Toowoomba manage to score 2 directs hits on it.
At Mandaly, Brigadier General Anstice of 7th Armoured Bde launch a local counterstrike. The odd is 0/1 but the goal is attrition: the results are 350 japs casualties for 100 allied, and after checking, there is NO real losses, only disruption.

[gladiatt]

25th April - 30th April

SoPac
New Guinea
On 25th, a mistake of my own let one australian squadron of Boston to attack Gili Gili airfield, but the 6 boston lack escort, and the CAP of 23 zero destroy 4 of them.

Port Moresby is also raided several times in the week.
Losses amount to 6 jap fighters, 4 japs bombers, 11 allied fighters, 6 others planes, and 2 AK sunken.

New Caledonia and Else
Raids on Luganville by bettys escorted by Zero; my fighters keep on ground, having suffered too much losses on the previous week. 1 jap bomber is destroyed, for 2 catalinas on ground.

On 28th april, a japanese sub is spotted at Tongatapu Island. On 29th a TF of 5 US DD find I-10, score 3 directs hits, and sink it !

CHINA
Homan and around
26th april, a sweep of 31 oscar down 4 of the 12 Airacobra on CAP.
On ground, the chinese forces exchange artillery volley with the japanese, buying time for the place.
Changsa
Hoping to cause some loss to the japs, my chinese force take advantage of the fact that only 5 japanese divisions remain here; i launch an attack. 1/1, 1500 japanese casualties for 1450 chinese.

PI
San Marcelino is bombed on 25th and 26th april, assaulted on 27th and 28th, and surrender.
7400 allies soldiers surrenders.

[gladiatt]

PI next

Bataan is also heavily bombarded . In 5 days, it suffer 220 japs air sorties ( 3 japanese planes downed), and 1300 casualties from artillery.
After 2 attacks, on 30th april ....

[gladiatt]

Results

[gladiatt]

25th april - 30th april next

DEI
Amboine fall on 26th april. Despite the 2 dutch subs lurking at the place, no japanese ships is hit. On 29th april, an ASW TF of 5 PG catch SS O-16, damaging it after 4 indirect hits.

Soerebaja cost 4 japanese bombers.
A jap assaut on 25th april reduce fort to level 4; 750 jap casualties for 300 dutch.
On 27th april, 21 vals and 14 kate bomb the place, coming from EI and EII datai; Shokaku and Zuikaku are west of Java; but i find this raid pretty anemic for 2 CV of KB.
On 28th april, another assaut on ground fail to reduce forts ( 740 japs casualties for 720 dutch).

Batavia
The AK arrived last week are attacked in port several times, and 3 sunk in 3 days.
Also zero are straffing my PT Boats, damaging the last 3, sinking one.
More: TK Merula was docked there, trying to escape with oil. Striken several times in the weeks by bombs or torpedoes, the oil cargo burn each time; the TK is doomed, but it help me to "scorch earth" here, spoiling around 20000 oil .

BURMA
26th, east of Mandalay, my airforces launch a raid against 1st jap Tk Reg: 24 4E face 18 zero on CAP. 1 zero and 2 bombers are destroyed. 9 bombers are damaged, results on ground inexistant.
28th april, a new raid is launched, but i still don't manage to send escort with it. So my 31 4E face alone the 19 zeros on CAP. 3 of my bombers are destroyed and 8 damaged, 1 zero is downed. The 1 st TK Reg suffer 106 casualties and 6 vehic; thus the japanese attack launched the same day fail.

30th april, SS I-30 sink AK Montanes north of Perth.

[gladiatt]

Dear readers, a quick word to ask you a little patience: i am now at 27th may in my game; i will make a entie month update, by theater of operation.
Trying a trailer ....hmmmm (thinking.....). Attrition is high in the air !!

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: gladiatt


Dear readers, a quick word to ask you a little patience: i am now at 27th may in my game; i will make a entie month update, by theater of operation.
Trying a trailer ....hmmmm (thinking.....). Attrition is high in the air !!

Hopefully Japanese attrition is high!!

[gladiatt]

add

[gladiatt]

MAY 1942

CENTPAC
Few things to tell in a month.
On 3rd may, my only air raid against Johnston airfield. 124 bombers encounter 49 zeros on CAP; 16 bombers are destroyed, 57 damaged, the jap loose 5 zeros, 1 val and 1 nell. The cost is too high for me, so raids are stopped.

On 22th may at Johnston, SS Thresher laying mines also sink MSW Tamozono, but suffer a direct hit from an TF of 6 PG; it head back to Pearl, and dock on 29th may. On 27th may, it is SS S-46 wich suffer a direct hit, and sail back to Pearl.

Midway is a big concern to try to supply the atoll. On 3rd may, AK San Vincente try to enter the harbor. Spotted by SS I-21, it is sunk by he jap sub. The local ASW of 4 MSW hunt the jap but fail to score a hit. My MSW are now under air cover provided by a squadron of F4F, after so many raid of betty coming from Johnston, so i thought they were safe.... I was wrong; first, on 5th of may, I-21 manage to sink MSW Vireo in the morning, and MSW Bobolink in the afternoon !!
Then, on 11th may, 4 japs DD raid Midway, sinking the last 2 MSW and a TK, before racing for cover unharmed !

[gladiatt]

MAY 1942

CHINA

South of China
My chinese forces are under daily bombing run near Nanning. So i decide to ambush the japs Sonia.
On 2th may, 9 Nate and 25 Sonia are catched by 15 Polykarpov I-16, and 4 japs are downed. But Jan soon react: He provide Oscar cover to his bombers. On 7th may, mi I-16 are overwhelmed by 30 Oscar, and 5 polykarpov are lost for no japs. Another raid on 10th may destroy another 6 I-16. That's enough for me, i withdraw my fighters.





North China
It seem there is a stalemate on ground. The huge stack of 25 japs units have disapeared somewhere else. But there are airfight over Homan. The US 6th FS of P-39 try to protect the base. Between 2 and 14 may, i loose 6 P-39 for 3 oscar sweeping the place. Than the japs tactic change. Night air raid are conducted on Sian by Sallys from 20th may. At first some I-153 try to CAP by night, but achieve no results. Some Sallys are damaged by flak, and some I-153 by sallys ! So on 26th may, 27th squadron of Beaufighter VIF take off to face the sallys. Until 31th may, 3 sallys are downed (1 by flak) and 12 damaged, for 1 Beaufighter on op losse.

Central China
After the withdrawal of 17 units besieging Changsa, i launched some attacks on the jap units remaining (see previous month). I keep on the attack on 1st and 2nd may, causing 2500 jap casualties for 2800 chineses. The disruption level rising in my troops, i resume the usual artillery duel....

On 12th may, east of Ichang, 13th and 15th jap tank regiments repulse chinese 49th corps toward Ichang, pursue it, and repulse it once more on 17th may, until reaching Ichang. On 21th may, my 5 corps in the place launch a counter attack against the 2 tank regiments, repulsing them (25 jap casualties and 2 vehicules against 85 chinese casualties).
60 Nates straffed the 49th corps since 12th may; but on 20th may, 5 P-39 of 6th FS ambush these planes, and down 8 Nates.

Back at Changsa. On 17th may, the usual artillery duel have an unexpected result : 500 jap casualties. So i decide to launch a attack on 18th may with 8 corps. It succeed at 2/1 and although causing 1100 chinese casualties for 930 chinese, the 5 jap divisions are repulsed. The victory point for ground losses raise of 90 victory points for me !
The 6th FS now transfer at Changsa. But Oscar are sweeping the town very effectively. From 21th may to 25th may, 7 Airacobra are downed for 2 Oscar. On 26th of may, the 21 CFS replace the 6 FS (sent in India for refit). From 26th may to 31th may, 10 Polykarpov are lost for 5 oscar and 1 Ann.
South of Changsa is the "lone" 70th jap division. One week is needed to gather 4 corps and a chinese div against it, under daily bombing runs by jap divebombers. On 29th may, the attack is launched, but to my surprise the jap 15th division has come to reinforce the 70th. In spite of these, my 36000 soldiers manage to repulse the 33000 japanese soldiers. (500 jap casualties and 650 chinese). The land victory point raise of 28 points for me this turn !

[gladiatt]

MAY 1942

MALAYA

Singapore is still besieged.
In order to help the defenders, i decide to base 215th squadron (Wellington) and 34th squadron (Blenheim IV) in Palembang to attack the japanese troops. Brewster dutch fighters will provide cover. But they face a daily CAP of 40 japanese fighters (zero, oscar, Nates).
From 4th of may until 15th may, i launch 10 raids (70 sorties), loosing 11 fighters and 15bombers for too few results on ground (but 2 japs fighters are destroyed).
In the month, jap bombers made 486 sorties against Singapore. 11 Planes are destroyed by my flak (2 of them being Emilys).
On 22th may, 4 AK try to sneak in Sunda Straight heading for Singapore. 3 are sunked by bettys ; the last one is sunk on 23 th may; another convoy of 2 freighters follow closely, but one ship is sunk on 23th may. On 24th may, SS RO-33 sink Empire Faith, last hope of Singapore defenders to receive supply. No faith is left for the british fortress.

[gladiatt]

MAY 1942

DEI

Soerebaja is under constant aerial hammering. Between 1st may until 6th may, the place sustain 400 sorties; 6 japs bombers are downed by flak. 3 jap delib attack on 1st, 4th and 5th may fail to grab the place. But on 6th may, Jan know success. Japan army take the base. 25000 dutch troops surrender. This is a hard blow to me, but Jan admitted in a mail that it was far too late on his schedulded plans.
The jap juggernaut then head north. Batavia is sweeped on 1st and 4th may, destroying 8 of my Brewster 339 but 4 Oscar are downed.
On 9th may, first japanese air attack on Tjilitjap. Daily bombing runs are made until the 66000 japanese soldiers reach the place. On 17th may, the 2500 dutch defenders of Tjilitjap are overwhelmed and surrenders. 2nd Malaya Bde and 2nd dutch Rgt force march toward Batavia. These units manage to outrun the outflank manoeuver of 56th bde on the east coast of Java (see map).





On 20th may start the bombing campaign against Batavia, and on 21th may the zero sweep wippe my last 7 Hawk75.
Empty Bandoeng fall on 21th may (with 11 week of bonus comparing to historical timeline).
On 28th may, a jap landing occur at Merak : Jan surely don't want to waste more time and so cut the only retreat path possible for my dutch defenders. Merak fall on 29th may. The siege of Batavia start on 27th may.

Borneo
On 7th may at Brunei, SS O-21 sink AK Yamakase with a torp, and hit AK Genoa Maru on 8th may (sink 9th may).
On 16th may, near Brunei, SS O-20 sink MSW Ranzan Maru.
On 27th may, the japs labd at Kuching. My two 6inch CD Guns achieve no results, the invader suffer minor losses. The 1700 soldiers of 16th naval guard unit are ashore.
On 29th may, BB Ise and Yamato cause a tremendous 1300 casualties; then CA Kako and 4DD add more shelling. The jap surely think he can win but the attack fail. So on 31th may, BB Ise and Yamato shell once more the place.

Sorong
On 6th may, 6000 Jap soldiers land at Sorong, captured on 7th may by 82nd Nav Guard and 3 NLF. Does this mean my opponant need oil ? 2 dutch subs are dispatched in the area but in the following days catch no targets.

[gladiatt]

MAY 1942

DEI
Koepang

First of all, on 9th may, 26 bombers from Hiryu and Soryu raid Perth harbor, and damage 6 ships. During a few hours, Allied supreme Stupid wonder if he should react by sending the 2 operationnal CV lurking in South Pacific. But on 10th may, the japs CV has vanished, so no decision is made.

On 16th may, SS RO-63 attack on the surface AK Kaiping trying to resupply Koepang, and sink it with 2 torps. The place is sweeped casualy by zeros, and bombed daily by few bettys.
On 18th may, i decide to take off with a CAP of 5 Brewster 339; bad planning. Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu raid the place. The sweep of 26 Zeros wipp the brewster, and the airfield is messed by 40 bombers . But for a raid of CV, i find it a bit weak.
On 21th may, the japs CV make another raid on Koepang. 43 bombers destroy 5 allied planes on ground, loosing 1 val and 1 kate by flak. Raids follow on 22th may and 23th may. It seem these CV are acting as bait...(see Sopac), but being too far away i refuse to react.

[gladiatt]

MAY 1942

DEI - Sumatra

On 15th may, a sweep of 26 zeros on Palembang mean the beginning of troubles for this place.
Some TF are spotted east of Sinkep Island. 9 Blenheims of 34th sq based at Palembang attack these on 18th may. They encounter a CAP of zero wich down 3 Blenheims, and no hits ae scored on CA Kako and 2DD. I would have prefered to aim at transport TF.
Another attack on 19th may achieve no hits and loose 3 bombers and 3 dutch fighters.
On 20th, landing start in Jambi. There are heavy casualties. Is there some Sarawak cannibal tribe around the place ?





Jambi is captured 21th may. On 23th may, SS S-38 hit AP Nichiren with 2 torpedos (sink on 30th may north of Borneo coast).
23th may, Jan gather a great raid against Palembang airfield. 170 sallys trash the base, destroying on ground 9 bombers, 2 brewster and 5 newly transfered Hurricanes. The runway suffer 146 hits, the airbase 31 hits. I will never recover , and it also halt the building of my forts.
Raids on 24th, 26th, 27th may score more than 250 runway hits, destroying 17 more planes; no take off can occur, and a few more planes are damaged and can't repair (to flee from the base).
27th may, of my 2 subs lurking at Jambi since 4 days now, SS S-38 is hunt and damaged by 6 japs DD, and must sail back to Trincomalee. On 30th may, SS O-21 is also damaged, and must leave the area.
On 31th may, siege of Palembang start. How long can i deny oil to the japanese ???

[gladiatt]

MAY 1942

INDIA AND BURMA

INDIA & CEYLON

2nd may near Ceylon SS I-122 hit AK Empire Mist with 2 torpedoes, causing casualties on escaped troops from Singapore that i tried to gather (after scattered escape from subs)...Poor guys thought they would be safe out of Singapore... no retaliation on the sub despite my ASW groups.
On 7th may, mines laid by jap sub damage an AK at Colombo. Minesweeping duty is conducted.
13th may at Sabang, north of Sumatra, 13 bettys avoid a leaky CAP of 13 buffalos and sink AP Kanimba trying to evacuate fragments of troops from singapore (lifted by subs rotating in Malacca straight). Subs will be used now to evacuate from here, but they load so few...
18th may, i try to send 4 AK of supply in Andaman (still trying to reach level 3 forts). 22 Nells spot them, and sink 3 of them this days, and sinking the last one on 19th may before a single point of supply can be unloaded in port.
26th may, south of Panjai, a TF of 4 PG spot I-164 and attack it. PG Cyclamen score 2 direct hit on it, setting the sub on fire, but no sinking confirmed.

BURMA
In Burma i decide to fight and attrit the jap in this theater of operation, in the air and if possible on ground (but reading China post, you will see my best succes where in China, although unexpected at beginning of May).
After the March and April raids of KB on Ceylon, it took a long time to refill the pools of fighters. The prod rate of P-40B is far too weak (come on, only 10 per month ????), and thus only one squadron is refilled. ( P-40E are used at high rates on others squadron, so are not used here).
The fight here will be make mainly by 605th, 60th, 67th squadron (HurricaneII), 457th RAAF squadron (Kittyhawk I), and AVG/A (P-40B).
See the stats of my 2 best units :




After some days of waiting because of bad weather, the fighting start on 4th may with sweeps on Mandalay (where Jan had continuous CAP). Some bombers raids will also aim several targets : 1st jap tank regiments just east of Mandalay, facing 3 depleted chinese division on the road to Lashio); Mandalay (33th and 55th jap division), but also Taung Gyi and Pagan airfield.
The main problem during this month will be the fact that sweep too often occur AFTER the bombers raids, thus making some losses on my planes.

[gladiatt]

BURMA CAMPAIGN

From 4th to 31th may, my squadron made 19 sweeps against the targets (mainly Mandalay until 22th may) told in previous post. Planes are downed in flames on each side. Some crash on landing. There are pilots hanging to their parachute, some are made prisonners; some pilots can't bail out.... Some sweeps are full success, others are utter failure...
On 12th may, the losses of 605th squadron are so heavy that it is sent back in Dacca to refil. Same day, General Claire Chennault take command of 10th Air Force.
On 13th may i try something new; 13 B-17 of 19th BG/C attack Rangon oil field; they encounter a CAP of 21 Oscars. 1 oscar is downed, 3 flying fortress damaged (one op losse), no oil hits.
Taung Gyi airfield is aimed on 14th and 15th may; raid refuse to fly on 16th. Pagan airfield is hit on 21th may. Total of theses raids: 1 zero, 1 Dinah and 5 oscar on ground.

On 18th may, sweep at Mandalay use Mohawk, but they are slaughtered by the zeros: 8 are downed for no japs planes; hopefully, AVG (removed few days before to refil it's rank) come back the next day and to give hard time to the japs.

On 22th may, for the first time of the month, my bombers freely hammer the japs troops on ground around Mandalay. Same on 24th and 25th may. So it is decided that Major General Anstice of 7th Armoured Brigade launch a tank attack (already 2 attacks made solely by tanks occur in previous may). Once more attack suffer a 0/1 odd. This time, despite the casualties sustained by the japs by my bombers, the result is not really good: 280 japs casualties for 200 allied.
Seing some kind of weakness from japs fighters, my bombers once more target Taung Gyi and Pagan airfield; but this time both base are targeted in the same time (reinforcement of 2 wellington squadron help in this). There are some jap fighters offering a fight. Some allied bombers and fighters are downed, several damaged, but there are good score on base and runway, and some transports planes are desroyed on ground.

TOTAL AIR LOSSES IN BURMA (not op losses) amount to:
18 P-40, 30 Hurricanes, 9 Kittyhawk, 8 Mohawk, 15 bombers : 80 planes.
97 japs fighters and 7 transports planes.

This is a blood bath. I am not sure this is the wisest strategy, but for the time being, with my reduced assets and middle-class planes, that's all i can imagine.

[gladiatt]

BURMA

My two lead units :

[gladiatt]

SoPac

So much action in here that i must cut in several post.

1st MAY - 20th MAY

Fight in New Guinea: each side try to deny supply to the opponant (but my attempt are really weak).

Port Moresby suffer jap air raids on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th May (gathering sometime 50 bettys and 40 zeros/oscar). Losses amount to 41 allied planes (23 on ground) of all types: boston, catalina, mitchell, beauforts, kittyhawks. Japs losses are 4 zero and 8 bettys. Jan has the upper hand here.
On 2th may, at night, a raider TF (3CL and 4DD) sneak in Port Moresby despite the 80 mines and 1 subs warding the place. It catche a TF of 4 AK; 2 of these are sink outright, the 2 others badly damaged and on fire, most of the 28000 supply is lost. At dawn, no retaliation from my LBA is launch (probably heavy CAP on this TF).
With bettys so close to Port Moresby, i don't feel to send some warship to stop the raiders...




But Jan made a mistake with this TF; i still don't understand what he was looking for: a raid on Cairns or Townsville ? On morning of 4th may, Beaufort of 7th RAAF squadron spot the TF and attack it; CL Yura is hit with 2 torps, and sink 6 days later.

On 5th may, BB Hyuga, Yamashiro, Fuso, Nagato, 2 CA, 2CL and some DD shore bomb the base, causing 780 casualties, destroying 5 more planes on ground, and escape retaliation during daylight.

Gili Gili is raided by my planes. But often, there is bad coordination, or escort don't fly (range chacked many times...it seem the australian pilots have some lack of morale).
Losses amount there to 12 allied bombers, 8 fighters, for 12 japs fighters.
Not enough damage on airfield to close it....

I also try to deny supply to Gili Gili. AG Convoy come from Gasmata.
On 17th may, near Goodenough Islands, 9 Mitchell of 18th RAAF squadron straffe a convoy. They hit 2 PG with 50cal, not even enough to damage theses patrol boats.
On 18th may, 12 Mitchell (same 18th squadron) attack the barges closing to Gili Gili, but no escort cover them : they are slaughtered by 40 japs fighters on CAP, all the Mitchell are destroyed (few hopes to bail at 100 feet for the pilots).
On 27th may (but see next post, many things occur), 12 boston straffe an AG Convoy, and altough no barges are hit, 2 patrol boats are hits by bombs, on seen on fire.
Sadly, no barge were hit in the month, and they where the goal: the AG load supply, not the PG.