Mission To Rabaul New Britain January 5, 1943
5th AAF CCU Mission To Rabaul New Britain January 5, 1943NARA Identifier: 24237
00:00 - B-17E 41-2627 landing at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby.
00:09 – Slate board with Bombers Returning from Rabaul Date: 1-5-43.
00:12 – B-24D Liberator 41-24043 landing right to left.
00:20 – B-24D Liberator landing left to right tail serial number 1344575 [sic] with control tower in distance.
00:27 – Bomber in distance over in landing pattern, too far away to identify.
00:42 – B-17 with gear and flaps down over the runway, too far away to read tail serial number.
00:57 – B-24 landing and applying breaks, tail angle too sharp to view serial number.
01:01 – Slate board with Scene 35, Bombing Rabaul, Take 1, Day 1-5-43.
01:06 – B-17E “Honi Kuu Okole” 41-9244 in flight bound for Rabaul (front half). View from the right waist window of cinematographer’s B-17.
01:28 – B-17E “Honi Kuu Okole” 41-9244 in flight bound for Rabaul (front half).
01:46 – B-17E “Honi Kuu Okole” 41-9244 in flight bound for Rabaul (wide view).
01:57 – Formation of B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron with B-24 Liberators from the 90th Bombardment Group in the distance. In the center is B-17E “The Jersey Skeeter” 41-2664. In the right foreground is the right tail stabilizer from the cinematographer’s B-17.
02:08 – Formation of B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron with a B-24 Liberator from the 90th Bombardment Group in the distance.
02:19 – Formation of B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron with B-24 Liberator from the 90th Bombardment Group in the distance. In the center is B-17E “The Jersey Skeeter” 41-2664. In the right foreground is the right tail stabilizer from the cinematographer’s B-17.
02:31 – B-17F “San Antonio Rose” 41-24458 (front half).
02:42 – Around noon, the coast of New Britain Island near Cape Gazelle bordering Blanche Bay panning down to Lesson Point. The rectangular clearing is Rapopo Airfield (Rabaul South) with the single runway under construction.
3:13 – Coast of New Britain Island bordering Blanche Bay between Lesson Point following the coastline westward towards Vunapope and Kokopo. Offshore are Japanese cargo ships at anchor, as part of a Japanese convoy preparing to depart for Lae.
03:21 – Stick of at least four aerial bombs dropped by another B-17 in the formation falling toward Japanese ships at anchor off Vunapope.
03:42 – Vunapope bordering Blanche Bay with the shipwreck of the Lock Katrine partially sunk at the end of a dock with a swimming pool nearby. Offshore are several Japanese cargo ships at anchor with a launch motoring towards one vessel.
04:02 – Bombs bracket a Japanese cargo ship at anchor, possibly a Daihatsu landing barge (Motorized Landing Craft – MLC). This vessel appears to be bracketed the bombs.
04:05 – Aerial view of Mount Tovanurdatir (North Daughter) and the northern tip of New Britain Island.
04:15 – Aerial view of Rabaul bordering Simpson Harbor. Many Japanese ships are at anchor with several motor launches visible.
04:20 – Puffs of anti-aircraft fire over Simpson Harbor with Japanese ships at anchor. At lower altitude is a single engine fighter aircraft painted overall gray or white, likely a A6M2 Zero in level flight, flying from east to west across the harbor.
04:25 – Japanese ship attempting to maneuverer, making smoke with foam at the stern.
04:25 – Japanese cargo ship making steam and maneuvering with foam at the stern to evade the bombers.
04:31 – View over Rabaul town including several ships unloading at the shoreline. View over Simpson Harbor with ships at anchor and getting underway. In the upper frame is a formation of four single engine fighters, likely Ki-43-I Oscars in level flight, flying to the east. At low altitude the same single engine fighter is visible.
04:33 – Japanese ship attempting to maneuverer, making smoke with foam at the stern.
04:38 – Aerial view of Vunakanau Airfield (Rabaul West) from approximately 8,500’ including the runways, taxiways and dispersal areas.
04:41 – Right waist gunner from B-17 firing over Vunakanau Airfield with tracer bullets visible.
04:53 – Pan upward to the north, view of clouds and the horizon then down to the northern coast of New Britain Island over Ataliklikun Bay.
06:24 – Aerial view over Ataliklikun Bay westward towards Cape Lambert in the distance.
04:41 – The B-17’s right waist gunner fires at Vunakanau Airfield, with a line of tracer bullets visible then view of the sky and clouds to the northeast then down over the northern coast of New Britain bordering Ataliklikun Bay
06:51 View westward towards forest covered foothills towards Cape Lambert with scattered clouds.
08:07 – End of exposed film
08:33 – End of film.