Target: Rabaul (82 page)

Paul Barnett perches on the cockpit sill of the strike commander’s TBF Avenger prior to the first carrier raid on Rabaul, November 5, 1943. Having volunteered for the mission, Barnett snapped a series of dramatic aerial photos of the attack before he was fatally wounded by gunfire from a Zero.
National Archives

An intervalometer automatically snapped this dramatic photo from the tail of a B-25 flown by Frank Cecil, 71st Bomb Squadron/38th Bomb Group. Behind him, Richard Hastings has just flashed over the stern of either
Arasaki
or
Hayasaki
, identical storeships that were anchored in Simpson Harbor. In the background, multiple fires started by phosphorous bombs obscure Rabaul.
MacArthur Memorial

One of Barnett’s photographs reveals Japanese warships scurrying from the confines of Simpson Harbor. Cruisers fired their main batteries, creating the large clouds of white smoke. Lakunai airdrome is visible at upper left, directly across from Tavurvur crater at the edge of Matupit Harbor (upper center); part of Vulcan crater can be seen at lower right.
National Archives

This SBD, flown by John Lucas, scored a damaging near-miss on the heavy cruiser
Chikuma
but received a direct hit on the starboard side of the fuselage that killed its gunner, Myles James. The blood trails were left during the removal of the body after Lucas returned to
Saratoga
.
National Archives

Gunner Kenneth Bratton, his left knee torn by shrapnel from a 20mm shell, is lifted from the turret of the Avenger flown by strike commander Howard Caldwell. The body of Paul Barnett, who had been shot in the back of the head, was recovered from the cockpit just forward of the turret. A third crewman was also wounded in the Avenger, which Caldwell skillfully brought aboard despite severe damage.
National Archives

In a scene that would boggle the minds of today’s safety-conscious flight deck crews, dozens of spectators mill about during active recovery of F6F Hellcats aboard
Saratoga
following the raid on Rabaul. A mishap might have killed or injured scores of bystanders. In the foreground is an SBD Dauntless of VB-12, the squadron that scored most of the effective hits. Altogether the raid damaged five heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and two destroyers.
National Archives

Burial at sea: In a tradition as ancient as seafaring, the weighted, flag-draped remains of Paul Barnett and Myles James will soon be committed to the deep. The assembled crew stands at attention prior to the commencement of the service, which would include a brief scripture (note the robed chaplain), rifle volleys, and Taps.
National Archives

The combat debut of the new Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was made during the second carrier raid on November 11, 1943. Honors for the first attack went to Bombing Squadron 17 aboard USS
Essex
, namesake of the navy’s newest class of fleet carrier. Here, during a training evolution, a Helldiver’s landing is waved off and the pilot banks sharply to go around for another pass.
National Archives

The prize: Using dynamite and bulldozers, Seabees constructed the most important Allied airstrip of the South Pacific war in a swampland on the south coast of Bougainville. The field at Torokina Point enabled land-based fighters to reach Rabaul for the first time, and the campaign against the fortress shifted to Vice Adm. “Bull” Halsey’s aerial forces in the Solomons.
National Archives

Frank Walton (left image) and National Archives (right image)

The ace race: Marine fighter pilots Greg Boyington (left) and Bob Hanson (right) were birds of a feather. Among their many commonalities, they each experienced a meteoric rise as Corsair aces. Boyington was shot down by Zeros to become a prisoner of war; Hanson fell to antiaircraft fire a day before his 24th birthday. Each received a Medal of Honor. Another common trait was discovered later—some of their victory claims were too good to be true.

With subtle improvements in powerplant, armament, and features, the ubiquitous Mitsubishi Type 0 carrier fighter served throughout most of the Pacific War. Greatly feared at first, the Zero was later outclassed. Pictured here is one of Japan’s top aces, Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, in a Model 22 “Hamp” of Air Group 251 over the Solomons in mid-1943.
Darryl Ford