Oro Bay/Pt Moresby/Milne Bay 4/43
 

I would like to know the US fighter claims at Oro Bay, 11/4/43, Pt Moresby, 12/4/43, and also Milne Bay, 14/4/43. I have the RAAF fighter claims for these engagements and would like to complete the picture!


Cheers, Bruce

Re: Oro Bay/Pt Moresby/Milne Bay 4/43
 

Hi Bruce,

11.04.1943 Oro bay:
The 49th FG scrambled 8 P40s of 7th FS, 12 P40s of 8th FS and 15 P38s of 9th FS. @12:30 they claimed:
49th FG 3 Zeke
7th FS 2 Val
8th FS 5 Zeke, 2 Val, 1 Zeke prob., 1 Oscar dam.
9th FS 1 Oscar, 1 Oscar prob.
They suffered no losses.

4 P38s of 80 FS @ 12:40 claimed 1 Zeke and 3 Val for no losses.

P38s of 39 FS @ 12:30 claimed 1 Zeke and 1 Zeke prob for no losses.

12.04.1943 Port Moresby:
The 49th FG scrambled 6 P40s of 8th FS and 3 P38s of 9th FS.
@10:25 the 9th FS claimed 2 Oscar, 3 Betty, 1 Oscar prob., 1 Betty dam. for the loss of 1 P38 - written off (Lt. Pete Algers)
@11:00 the 8th FS claimed 1 Zeke and 3 Betty for no losses.

3 P38s of 80 FS @ 10:20 claimed 1 Betty for 1 P38 damaged that crash landed at base.

@10:15/11:10 the 39th FS (35th FG) claimed 2 Zeke, 3 Betty.
@10:20/10:45 the 40th FS (35th FG) claimed 1 Zeke, 5 Betty.
@10:20/10:30 the 41th FS (35th FG) claimed 4 Zeke, 1 Betty, 1 Nell, 1 Zeke prob. and 1 Betty prob.
I do'nt know the 35th FG losses.

14.04.1943 Milne Bay:

8 P38th of 9th FS (49th FG) @ 12:30 claimed 1 Zeke, 1 Betty, 2 Val prob., 1 Betty prob. for the loss of 1 P38 (Capt. Bill Sells KIA).

Can you please list RAAF fighter claims and losses?
Thank You.

Best regards

Marco

Re: Oro Bay/Pt Moresby/Milne Bay 4/43
 

Hi Marco,

Thanks for all that information. The RAAF claims and losses that I've discovered are as follows:

11/4/43 Oro Bay
77 Sqn (P-40K) : 1 Zeke dest, 1 Zeke dam
No losses or damage to my knowledge.

14/4/43 Milne Bay
75 Sqn (P-40E) : 2 Betty, 2 Zeke, 1 Val, 2 Betty prob, Zeke prob
17 a/c scrambled; losses were 1 a/c force-landed due to engine failure
(W/O?) & 2 a/c dam (Sgt Stirling WIA)

77 Sqn (P-40K) : 4 Betty, 1 Zeke, 5 Betty prob
19 a/c scrambled; losses were 1 a/c & pilot (Sgt LC Melrose KIA) & 3 a/c dam

These details are from published sources; for confirmation you could try
the unit histories at the Australian Archives.


Cheers, Bruce

Re: Oro Bay/Pt Moresby/Milne Bay 4/43
 

Hi Bruce,

thank You very much!

Best regards

Marco