Post by VC-81 BOLTER CAG on May 24, 2006 21:29:25 GMT -5
SNATF XX: Kenney's Kids - The Battle of The Bismarck Sea
SATURDAY May 27, 2006 2100 Washington D.C. Time
Mission by Big A of Carrier Air Wing 21.
"The Battle of The Bismarck Sea" was a crucial turning point in Japan's plans to expand its holdings in the Pacific southward toward and into Australia. It was a battle of air power, fought by dozens of airplanes at a time, rather than the hundreds that flew on massed missions against the Germans over Europe.
Coming soon after the Americans had defeated the Japanese at Guadalcanal, "The Battle of The Bismarck Sea" sealed the fate of the Japanese plans against New Guinea. But it was not an easy win by any means. It would take every aircraft the Allies had and a handful of new innovations to defeat what was considered a superior, well-supplied Japanese force at Rabaul. It would take the flyers of the United States 5th Air Force - nicknamed "Kenney's Kids" after their affectionate Commander, Lt.General George C. Kenney.
The Japanese plan was simple: reinforce their armies at Lae, New Guinea, in preparation for an advance across land that would ultimately take the island. From there, the next step would be the conquest of Australia. The task force to start the job would be composed of eight destroyers and eight transport ships which would sail from the fortress port, Rabaul, to Lae, New Guinea.
The battle commenced on February 28, 1943, when the Japanese dispatched a task force to reinforce the existing troops on New Guinea.
With few Allied ground forces available and very limited supplies, the odds were stacked against the Allies. Within two days, it was certain that the Japanese transport ships would arrive at Lae and offload over 7,000 fresh combat troops. If the Japanese succeeded in landing, there would be little that could save the island of New Guinea.
Join us this Saturday as the United States 5th Air Force answers the call and clashes with Japanese air forces from Rabaul in this historical mission of March 3, 1943.
Visit snatf.tidesofwar.net/index.php for the whole briefing.
SATURDAY May 27, 2006 2100 Washington D.C. Time
Mission by Big A of Carrier Air Wing 21.
"The Battle of The Bismarck Sea" was a crucial turning point in Japan's plans to expand its holdings in the Pacific southward toward and into Australia. It was a battle of air power, fought by dozens of airplanes at a time, rather than the hundreds that flew on massed missions against the Germans over Europe.
Coming soon after the Americans had defeated the Japanese at Guadalcanal, "The Battle of The Bismarck Sea" sealed the fate of the Japanese plans against New Guinea. But it was not an easy win by any means. It would take every aircraft the Allies had and a handful of new innovations to defeat what was considered a superior, well-supplied Japanese force at Rabaul. It would take the flyers of the United States 5th Air Force - nicknamed "Kenney's Kids" after their affectionate Commander, Lt.General George C. Kenney.
The Japanese plan was simple: reinforce their armies at Lae, New Guinea, in preparation for an advance across land that would ultimately take the island. From there, the next step would be the conquest of Australia. The task force to start the job would be composed of eight destroyers and eight transport ships which would sail from the fortress port, Rabaul, to Lae, New Guinea.
The battle commenced on February 28, 1943, when the Japanese dispatched a task force to reinforce the existing troops on New Guinea.
With few Allied ground forces available and very limited supplies, the odds were stacked against the Allies. Within two days, it was certain that the Japanese transport ships would arrive at Lae and offload over 7,000 fresh combat troops. If the Japanese succeeded in landing, there would be little that could save the island of New Guinea.
Join us this Saturday as the United States 5th Air Force answers the call and clashes with Japanese air forces from Rabaul in this historical mission of March 3, 1943.
Visit snatf.tidesofwar.net/index.php for the whole briefing.
