[BruceMk11]

Thanks. I wasn't aware the 345th BG were on standby at Kiriwina.

I didn't think P-47s were used until I recently read it in Eric Hammel's Air War Pacific Chronology. He indicates they were used on the 2nd November (see pp 239-240). But maybe that's a mistake.

'Between 12 noon and 3 pm the fighters of Nos 76, 77 and 79 Squadrons RAAF were sent up over Kiriwina to protect the American air escorts which were now arriving back from the mission, but the enemy sent no raiders to molest them' (Air War Against Japan 1943-45, p 92, George Odgers, AWM, 1957).

This is a reference to the first strike on the 12th October, and tends to suggest most, or a substantial number, of the P-38s were refuelling on the homeward leg. The Beaufighters of No 30 Sqn also landed for refuelling.