The

Battle of the Bismarck Sea The Battle of the Bismarck Sea (2–4 March 1943) took place in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during World War II when aircraft of the U.S. Fifth Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) attacked a Japanese convoy carrying troop ...

(2–4 March 1943) took place in the

South West Pacific Area South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...

(SWPA) during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. At midnight 28 February 1942, eight transports carrying about 6,900 troops of the

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...

, escorted by eight destroyers of the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrend ...

, departed their base at Rabaul, New Britain heading for

Lae Lae () is the capital of Morobe Province and is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located near the delta of the Markham River and at the start of the Highlands Highway, which is the main land transport corridor between the Highl ...

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...

. Through the afternoon of 1 March, the overcast weather held at which point the weather changed direction and the slow-moving task force was spotted by an Allied scout plane. Aircraft of the U.S.

5th Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organizat ...

and the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

(RAAF) attacked the

convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

, sinking all eight transports and four of the eight destroyers. The remaining destroyers with about 2,700 surviving troops limped back to Rabaul.

Japanese forces

Rear Admiral

Masatomi Kimura , was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Biography Although born into the Kondō family of Shizuoka city Shizuoka Prefecture, Kimura was adopted by a family in Tottori city, Tottori prefecture soon after birth, and c ...

;Transports Captain Kamataro Matsumoto ;Embarked units :

Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

: Eighteenth Army Headquarters :: Eighteenth Army Signals :: 51st Division Headquarters :: 51st Division Signals :: 51st Engineer Regiment :: 14th Artillery Regiment :: 115th Infantry Regiment :: 3rd Field Hospital :: 21st Artillery Brigade :: 50th Antiaircraft Battalion :: 15th Independent Engineer Regiment :: 22nd Airfield Battalion :: 209th Airfield Regiment :: 5th Air Signals Regiment :: 8th Shipping Engineer Regiment :: 3rd Company, 5th Shipping Engineer Regiment :: 3rd Disembarkation Unit :

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It in ...

:: Yokosuka 3rd Naval Air Defence Unit :: Yokosuka 5th Special Naval Landing Party :: Maizuru 2nd Special Naval Landing Party ;Screen Yukikaze_2

Rear Admiral Kimura : 8 destroyers :: 2 ''Kagerō''-class (6 × 5-in. main battery) ::: ( Commander Masayoshi Motokura) ::: (Commander Ryokichi Sugama) :: 3 ''Asashio''-class (6 × 5-in. main battery) ::: (Commander Hideo Kuboki) ::: (Commander Goro Yoshii) ::: (Commander Toru Iwahashi) :: 3 ''Fubuki''-class (6 × 5-in. main battery) ::: (

Lt. Commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a Officer (armed forces), commissioned officer military rank, rank in many navy, navies. The rank is superior (hierarchy), superior to a l ...

Akifumi Kawahashi) ::: (Commander Rokuro Sugawara) ::: (Lt. Commander Chikara Hagio) ;Air units :

11th Air Fleet The was a grouping of naval aviation and surface units. Assignments and Components Commanders Chiefs of Staff Notes References * {{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Fleets of the Imperial Japanese Navy Units of the Imperial Japanese N ...

Southeast Area Fleet The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II. History The Southeast Area Fleet was an operational command of the Imperial Japanese Navy combining the remaining surface elements of the IJN 8th Fleet with the IJ ...

:::

204 Air Group The 204 Air Group was a unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific War, Pacific campaign of World War II. The unit was formed on 1 November 1942 by re-designating 6th Air Group and served in New Guinea and Rabaul. The air group was ...

:::

252 Air Group was a fighter aircraft unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific campaign of World War II. The unit was formed on 1 November 1942 by separating the fighter squadron from the Genzan Air Group. The unit, equipped with A6M Zero f ...

::: 253 Air Group :: First Air Flotilla ::: ''Zuihō'' Fighter Group (

Kavieng Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2009, it had a population of 17,248. Kavi ...

) :

:: 1st Flying Group ( 1st Hikō Sentai) :: 11th Flying Group ( 11th Hikō Sentai)

Allied forces

Allied air forces

;Commander, Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area/US

Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organizat ...

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

George C. Kenney George Churchill Kenney (August 6, 1889 – August 9, 1977) was a United States Army general during World War II. He is best known as the commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), a position he held between Augu ...

;Advanced Echelon, Allied Air Forces:

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Ennis C. Whitehead Ennis Clement Whitehead (September 3, 1895 – October 12, 1964) was an early United States Army aviator and a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II. Whitehead joined the U. S. Army after the United States entered World War I ...

RAAF

Aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Bristol_Type_156_Beaufighter

; No. 9 Operational Group RAAF : Air Commodore J. E. Hewitt :

No. 73 Wing RAAF No. 73 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) wing of World War II. It was formed in February 1943 at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, as part of No. 9 Operational Group. The wing initially comprised three attack squadrons flying ...

(

Wing Commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...

Blake Pelly) ::

No. 6 Squadron RAAF No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) training and bomber squadron. It was formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. The squadron was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of ...

(Wing Commander A. A. Barlow) :::

Turnbull Field Turnbull Field was an aerodrome near Gili Gili, Papua New Guinea. History Built by the US Army 2nd Battalion of 43rd Engineer General Service Regiment (less Company E), during the Battle of Milne Bay during World War II with assistance from the ...

Lockheed Hudson The Lockheed Hudson is a light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built by the American Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. It was initially put into service by the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and p ...

No. 22 Squadron RAAF No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) mixed Permanent and Reserve squadron that provides support for the RAAF in the Sydney region. Formed in 1936, the squadron served in Papua New Guinea during the Second Wor ...

(Wing Commander

Keith Hampshire Keith Hampshire (born 23 November 1945) is an English-born singer and actor. He recorded three songs which were top ten hits in Canada, and hosted the CBC Television show ''Keith Hampshire's Music Machine''. His voice has been compared to Dav ...

) :::

Wards Airfield Wards Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was abandoned after the war and was developed into the Waigani area of Port Moresby. The airfield was named in honor of Australian Lt. Col. K. H. ...

: A-20 Boston ::

No. 30 Squadron RAAF No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Raised in 1942 as a long-range fighter unit, the squadron saw action in the Second World War, serving in the South West Pacific Area against the Japanese and ...

(Wing Commander B. R. Walker) ::: Wards Airfield: Bristol Beaufighter :

No. 71 Wing RAAF No. 71 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Wing (military aviation unit), wing of World War II. It was formed in February 1943 at Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, as part of No. 9 Operational Group RAAF, No. 9 Operational Group. Th ...

(

Ian McLachlan Ian Murray McLachlan (born 2 October 1936) is a former Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1998, representing the Liberal Party. He was Minister for Defence in the Howard Government from ...

) :: No. 75 Squadron RAAF (

Squadron Leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is als ...

W. S. Arthur) :::

Gurney Airfield An Australian Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun of the 2/9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery at Milne Bay Gurney Airport No. 1 Airstrip An Australian P-40 at Milne Bay Gurney Airport is an airport serving Alotau in the Milne Bay Province of Papua ...

P-40 Kittyhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...

:: No. 100 Squadron RAAF (Squadron Leader J. A. Smilbert (acting)) ::: Gurney Airfield:

Bristol Beaufort The Bristol Beaufort (manufacturer designation Type 152) is a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber. At le ...

USAAF

Tomahawk_Curtiss_P-40_8P54_%2815518032344%29

North_American_B-25C_Mitchell_%2815954740087%29

35th Fighter Group Military units * 35th Fighter Wing, an air combat unit of the United States Air Force * 35th Infantry Division (United States), a formation of the National Guard since World War I * 35th Infantry Regiment (United States), a regiment created on 1 Jul ...

(

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Richard A. Legg) :: 39th Fighter Squadron ( Captain T. J. Lynch) ::: Schwimmer Airfield:

P-38 Lightning The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...

:: 40th Fighter Squadron (Captain Malcolm A. Moore) ::: Rogers Airfield:

P-39 Airacobra The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by the ...

49th Fighter Group The 49th Fighter Group was a fighter aircraft unit of the Fifth Air Force that was located in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Activation and training The group was constituted as 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1 ...

( Lieutenant Colonel R. L. Morrissey) ::

7th Fighter Squadron The 7th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 1st Operations Group. It is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Overview The 7th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, assign ...

( Major William P. Martin) :::

Durand Airfield Durand Airfield (also known as 17-Mile Drome) is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located from Port Moresby, to the north of the Waigani swamp ...

P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...

8th Fighter Squadron The 8th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force squadron, assigned to the 54th Fighter Group Air Education and Training Command, stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It currently operates the General Dynamics F-16 ...

(Major Mitchell E. Sims) ::: Kila Airfield: P-40 Warhawk ::

9th Fighter Squadron 009 may refer to: * OO9, gauge model railways * O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport * 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California * British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent * BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9 * ...

(Captain Jesse C. Peaslee) ::: Schwimmer Airfield: P-38 Lightning : 3rd Attack Group (Lieutenant Colonel R. F. Strickland) :: 13th Attack Squadron (Major Harold V. Maull) ::: Schwimmer Airfield: B-25 Mitchell ::

89th Attack Squadron The 89th Attack Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 432d Wing as a tenant unit at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It has been active as a remotely piloted aircraft (drone) squadron there since 2011. The squadron ...

(Major Glen W. Clark) ::: Kila Airfield: A-20 Havoc :: 90th Attack Squadron (Major Edward L. Larner) ::: Durand Airfield: B-25 Mitchell :

38th Bombardment Group The 38th Bombardment Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. It was most recently assigned as the operational (flying) component of the 38th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, where it was inactivated ...

(Colonel Fay R. Upthegrove) :: 71st Bombardment Squadron (Major Eugene P. Mussett) ::: Durand Airfield: B-25 Mitchell ::

405th Bombardment Squadron 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...

(Lieutenant Colonel Millard Lewis) ::: Durand Airfield: B-25 Mitchell :

43rd Bombardment Group The 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group is an active duty air mobility unit at Pope Field (formerly Pope AFB), Fort Bragg, North Carolina and is part of the Air Mobility Command (AMC) under the USAF Expeditionary Center. The unit is composed of f ...

(Colonel Roger M. Ramey) :: 63rd Bombardment Squadron (Major Edward W. Scott) ::: Jacksons Airfield: B-17 Flying Fortress :: 64th Bombardment Squadron (Major Kenneth D. McCullar) ::: Jacksons Airfield: B-17 Flying Fortress :: 65th Bombardment Squadron (Major Harray J. Hawthorne) ::: Jacksons Airfield: B-17 Flying Fortress ::

403rd Bombardment Squadron The 403d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Wing at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, where it was inactivated on 1 January 1961. The squadron (aviation), squadron was f ...

(Major Jay P. Reusek) :::

Mareeba Airfield Mareeba Airfield is an airfield located south of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. Built in 1942 as a US Army Air Force base during World War II, the airfield had two runways, with a complement of taxiways, hardstands and a containment area. A ...

: B-17 Flying Fortress : 90th Bombardment Group (Colonel Ralph E. Koon) :: 319th Bombardment Squadron (Captain Charles E. Jones) ::: Jacksons Airfield: B-24 Liberator ::

320th Bombardment Squadron 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

(Major Roy L. Taylor) ::: Jacksons Airfield: B-24 Liberator ::

321st Bombardment Squadron 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

(Major Cecil L. Faulkner) ::: Jacksons Airfield: B-24 Liberator ::

400th Bombardment Squadron 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...

(Major Harry J. Bullis) ::: Jacksons Airfield: B-24 Liberator :: 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (1st Lieutenant F. S. Savage) ::: Kila Airfield:

F-4 Lightning The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...

F-5 Lightning The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...

Motor Torpedo Boat Striking Force

Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding ran ...

Barry K. Atkins : Early Type (77 feet, 4 × 18-in. torpedo tubes) :: PT-66 (

Lieutenant (jg) A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

William C. Quinby) :: PT-67 (

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

James W. Emmons) :: PT-68 (Lieutenant (jg) Robert L. Childs) : Elco Type (80 feet, 4 × 21-in. torpedo tubes) :: PT-121 (Ensign Edward R. Bergin) :: PT-128 (Ensign James W. Herring) :: PT-143 (Lieutenant (jg) John S. Bayliss) :: PT-149 (Lieutenant William J. Flittie) :: PT-150 (Lieutenant (jg) Russell E. Hamacheck)

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:the Bismarck Sea order of battle World War II orders of battle