The 70th anniversary of one of the RAAF’s most successful wartime air battles is occurring this weekend during the Avalon Airshow. The Battle of the Bismarck Sea (March 2 -4, 1943) saw Australian and US Air Forces combine to destroy a 16 ship convoy seeking to reinforce the Japanese base at Lae PNG, with 7,000 fresh troops and to support invasion of Port Moresby in the south.
We commemorated the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea yesterday at Avalon Airshow on 1 March 2013 with a book launch in front of the HARS Catalina.
The book, called “Man of the Sky” is a 32 page colour presentation of wartime artwork by Flt Lt Terence Duigan, (son/nephew of Reg and John Duigan, first to fly an Australian built aircraft in 1910).
Terry Duigan drew wartime cartoons that were published in the Sydney Bulletin and Service Newspapers and base newsletters, as well as doing sketches and paintings while on service.
He flew with 11 Sqn RAAF initially on Short Empire Flying Boats and later on Catalinas in missions to Rabual etc.
He later ferried a Martin Mariner from the USA before moving onto B-24 Liberators with 21 Sqn RAAF.
He died on ANZAC Day 2006
http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/duigan_terry_bio.html
The Book was launched on Friday, 1 March at the Airshow in front of the HARS Catalina at 1.30pm, with a veteran crew member from the RAAF Catalina that participated in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
‘Man of the Sky’ is 32 page magazine of wartime cartoons, sketches and paintings by Flt Lt Terence Duigan during his time as a Catalina (11SQN) and later B-24 Liberator (21SQN) pilot with the RAAF.
Flt Lt Terence Duigan was an enthusiastic artist and later qualified Architect, during the war he did cartoons that were published in the Bulletin and in wartime service papers, he also did sketches and paintings from his wartime experiences and did aircraft “nose art”.
‘Man of the Sky’is being launched to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea which occurred 2-4 March, 1943. Flt Lt Terence Duigan played a major role in shadowing the fleet prior to the allied air attack.
The book has a foreward by AM Mark Binskin AO, Vice Chief of the Defence Force. “This book differs from so many others as its not about historic exploits and brave deeds. This is a collection of observations, often personal, that are conveyed through the medium of art rather than words.”
Book Launch Party:
Dr Gwynne Duigan, Widow of Terence Duigan.
Flt Lt Geoff Watson, 11 Sqn RAAF Wireless Air Gunner from Catalina A24-14 with Pilot Terence Duigan.
Photos: Dr Gwynne Duigan and Geoff Watson in front of a restored wartime RAAF Catalina Flying boat.
This was an important air power battle by Australian and US Army Air Force SQNs against a 16 ship Japanese Convoy carrying nearly 7,000 troops seeking to re-enforce the Japanese base at Lae and therefore support the invasion of New Guinea and Port Moresby.
Flt Lt Terence Duigan and Flt Lt Geoff Watson, Wireless Air Gunner, were flying an 11SQN Catalina (A24-14) on 2, March 1943 when they located the Japanese Fleet. Duigan shadowed and harassed the fleet with bombs overnight to track and report its location.
The next day, March 3rd, Beaufort aircraft from RAAF 100SQN; Bostons from 22SQN and Beaufighters from 30SQN joined B-17s and B-25’s from the US 5th Air Force combined together in co-ordinated attacks and succeeded in sinking/disabling 4 of the 8 destroyers; sinking/disabling 7 of the 8 troop ships, causing the remaining 4 destroyers to rescue personnel and return to Rabaul.
The joint allied attack effectively ruined reinforcement of Lae and the Japanese ability to invade Port Moresby.
The Battle of the Bismarck Sea was a demonstration of airpower over naval power, with RAAF Catalina, Beaufort, Boston and Beaufighter SQNs taking part in a major battle of the Pacific war and recognised as part of the Battle for Australia.
Further reference:
http://www.battleforaustralia.org.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bismarck_Sea
Examples of the aircraft types referenced above are on display at the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin Airport.
Only surviving original RAAF combat Veteran “Black Cat” Catalina
http://www.aarg.com.au/Catalina.htm
Rare surviving original RAAF 100 Sqn DAP Beaufort Torpedo Bomber
http://www.aarg.com.au/Beaufort.htm
Rare surviving original RAAF 30 Sqn DAP Beaufighter
http://www.aarg.com.au/beaufighter.htm
regards
Mark Pilkington
Secretary, AARG
Trading as
“The Australian National Aviation Museum”
By: mark_pilkington - 7th March 2013 at 11:22
I wonder how many of the aircraft that were over the Japanese convoy on March 3rd 1943 still exist?
Thats an interesting question?
I have to confess I havent seen any serious research of that issue, but here’s some thoughts?
RAAF Survivors?
The Catalina A24-14 was sold after the war to KSAS but certainly doesnt exist anywhere today.
I dont know the details of the 8 Beauforts from 100 Sqn RAAF, but clearly they are numbered A9-300 or earlier to have been delivered into service by then, and only two survivors have numbers prior to that, A9-13 had left 100 Sqn for 1 OTU long before it went to NG, and A9-141 did not fly with 100 Sqn, so it would seem no Beaufort participants could survive?
The 30 Sqn Beaufighters would need to be numbered A19-102 or earlier to have been in service by then, and only one survivor exists within that number block, being the mark IC A19-43 now in the NMUSAF, which I understand is a 30 Sqn veteran, so it “may” have participated?, but I havent seen any reference to its involvement?, and I thought its operations were documented somewhere?
There were 22 Sqn Bostons involved in diversionary ground attacks of nearby Japanese airfields and later attacks against the remnants of the Convoys.
In March 1943, these would only have been the original ex Dutch DB-7’s so the only survivor from those is A28-8 “Jessica” at the RAAF Museum, so it “may” have participated?, (and I would have thought it likely to have?) but again I havent seen any reference to its involvement?
USAAF Survivors?
The US 5th Airforce had:
B-24 shadowed the fleet on the 1st of March, unless this aircraft is one of the partial wrecks left in PNG its probably safe to say its long gone.
B-17’s participating (only PNG survivors being Swamp Ghost and Black Cat Pass) but I dont think either of those are recorded as being involved?
B-25C1 Commerce Destroyers, with their skip bombs, – I am not aware of any of these surviving?, even as derelict wrecks in PNG?
A-20 Bostons – These supported the RAAF Beaufighters and B-25’s in the main attack.
There are a number of Bostons recovered from PNG including one from Tadji in the mid 1970’s and the BigNig etc recovered by the RAAFM, to my understanding all of these PNG survivors are A20G models (excluding the RAAF DB-7 above) and I understand these may have been delivered into service after the Battle of the Bismarck Sea?
So I suspect other than wrecks none of the US B-24, B-17s, B-25s or A20’s survive today?
P-38 Lightnings – These provided aircover to the bomber force over the convoy.
A few P-38s have been recovered from PNG and perhaps one of these did participate?
Japanese Survivors?
I’m not sure its well documented “which” aircraft participated let alone “survived” the battle itself? (50 to 60 zeros were claimed to have been shot down), but I understand air cover was provided to the convoy from both Rabaul and Lae?, and there seems few if any survivors ever recovered from those two locations (other than the two seat Zero of Kookaburra Publications came out of Rabual Harbour?), perhaps there is a wreck remaining in northern PNG that holds a secret or two?
So perhaps one or two aircraft do survive, subject to examination of squadron operational records, with the most likely being the RAAF Museum DB-7 from 22 Sqn?
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: WV-903. - 2nd March 2013 at 20:01
Thanks for Info Mark.
Many thanks chaps for keeping us informed of this very important WW2 event Anniversary and also for the excellent links. I’ve always been fascinated by the exploits of the RAAF/ RAF/US Air Forces,etc out in that hot bed area and have many books covering actions,etc. The Milne Bay P-40’s repulsing the Japs so close you could bat a cricket ball at them for one. 😮 It’s really good to see that quite a few important planes have been saved too now for posterity. Just keep it all going and keep the info. flowing this way too.
Spitfire Ale time now me-thinks and i’ll toast you guys efforts.
Bill T.
By: 43-2195 - 2nd March 2013 at 11:40
I wonder how many of the aircraft that were over the Japanese convoy on March 3rd 1943 still exist?
By: JollyGreenSlugg - 2nd March 2013 at 11:03
One of the most humble men I ever met was an elderly priest, Fr Maurie Carse. He was a mentor to me before he passed away in 2002. I knew he was ex-RAAF, and flew with the USAAF, but he never spoke much. Years after he passed away, I researched him, and found that he flew with the 90th BS, 3rd Attack Group, and was co-pilot to Bob Chatt, the pilot of B-25C “Chatterbox”. During the Battle of the Bsmarck Sea, this aircraft heavily damaged the IJN destroyer Arashio, which led to its destruction.
Carsie flew several tours, and was in northern Australia on B-24s when the war ended. He flew Lancastrians with QANTAS then went to the Department of Civil Avation. In 1948, he entered a monastery, and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1956. I knew him in the nineties, and his example inspires me still.
Rest In Peace, Carsie.
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March 1, 2013 at 9:29 pm