With the big carrier raids against Rabaul in November 1943, the Japanese naval presence in the Solomons area was doomed, but the base still hosted significant air forces and served as the final staging area for supplies and reinforcements. Over the next three months the Americans would bomb the New Britain base into impotence. A key part in the neutralization of Rabaul was played by Marine and Navy SBDs flying from land bases on recently taken islands in the Bismarcks. Meanwhile, SBDs continued to fly numerous close-support and scouting missions in the islands, playing a vital role in stamping out the remaining pockets of Japanese resistance.
Sources:
SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2 - Barret Tillman
Douglas SBD Dauntless - Peter C. Smith
Timeline of Rabaul on WWII Database:
m.ww2db.com/event/timeline/place/australian_new_guinea/new%20britain_rabaul
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9 июл 2024
