[rldunn]

The B-26 was replaced in the 22nd BG not because the B-25 was thought to be better but because their a/c were worn out and no replacements were sent to to the SWPA. Europe got priority and it made sense to reduce the variety of a/c types in SWPA.

The 8 Feb 42 mission was not the one where Sakai's book claims several B-17s downed with frontal passes. Sakai was involved in the 8 Feb interception and the reason the Japanese were so successful had little to do with bomb bay tanks which could be jettisoned and routinely were when opposition was met before the target. The B-17s were caught at a relatively low altitude where the Zeros outperformed them and could make repeated passes. The leader's name was Dufrane not Dufane,

The mission in which Sakai touted the head on pass as the solution to the B-17 took place on 2 Aug 42 near Buna. The results in this case were actually less than during the 8 Feb mission.

B-25s actually went into action against Lae before the B-26s. Lae was often hit by B-25s because they did not have the range to hit Rabaul from Moresby whereas the B-26s did and made many raids against Rabaul during the April - June 42 time period. B-26s were frequent visitors to both Lae and Rabaul and despite flying against a more distant and difficult target had a much better survival rate than the B-25s.

RLD