At 8.20am on April 18, 1942, just four months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, a small force of B-25 Mitchell bombers under the command of Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, took off from the heaving deck of the aircraft carrier Hornet. Unlike any other mission before or since, the crews departed on their dangerous journey with the full knowledge that each was on a one-way ticket. 

The mission assignment was to strike at the heart of the Imperial Japan, panic the high command into diverting men and machines from the offensive to defensive duties, and to give an America still reeling from Pearl Harbour a massive boost in morale. They achieved all of these, and in so doing effected what became one of the most remarkable air raids of World War II.

The sixteen-ship mission's orders were precise: At low-level, fly some 800 miles over water into hostile territory, without escort fend off attacks from air and ground fire over the target then, with insufficient fuel to make the return journey, fly the B-25's towards China until the gas ran out. Then bail out, ditch, or crash-land, avoid capture, and somehow find a way home.

Armoured Vehicle (A) Japanese

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other vehicles available - click here

This artwork depicts the Battleship Musashi under attack by US aircraft in the Suragao Straits 1944. She succumbed after 21 torpedo hits, and many bombs.

The small Australian garrison at Rabaul was overwhelmed by the Japanese on February 23, 1942.

Rabaul was converted into a veritable fortress, and major supply base for the planned expansion into mainland New Guinea, Papua, the Solomons, and Australia. Major actions including the Kokoda Trail, Milne Bay, Coral Sea Battle, Lae, Guadalcanal, Bougainville etc were all launched and supplied from Rabaul.

The pumice hills of Rabaul were honeycombed with over 500Km of tunnels, including
15 hospitals (one such being 4Km in length, and having capacity for 2,500 patients).
Indian P.O.W's captured at Singapore, and local inhabitants were used as labour for digging the tunnels - extreme hardships and many deaths resulted.

At it's peak the fortress of Rabaul included 5 airstrips, a float plane base, a submarine base, huge numbers of naval vessels, and up to 200,000 Japanese armed forces personnel.

Rabaul is located on the Gazelle Peninsula at the Northern tip of the island of
New Britain. New Britain now forms a part of the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. The non WWII history of this region is a fascinating story of it's own.

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"Remember Pearl Harbour"
The Attack on the USS Nevada

Artwork by Robert Taylor

When the Japanese hit Pearl Harbour on the morning of December 7, 1941, the battleship USS Nevada moored by herself, escaped the initial onslaught.

However, sighting the Nevada as she got up steam, an enemy bomber laid a torpedo into her side, blowing a massive hole near her bow. With her forward compartments flooded, amid all the explosions, smoke and confusion, she gallantly steamed for the open sea. 

As Nevada moved towards the main channel she was sighted by a flight of bombers and they immediately attacked. The water around the great ship erupted in a series of massive explosions sending plumes of spray into the air, enveloping the battleship from stern to stern.

With a number of fires now started, and gaping holes all along her hull, and her bow low in the water, Nevada was in danger of sinking in the entrance to the harbour. Fearing that possibility, she manoeuvred her bow onto the beach at Hospital Point. At that moment the second wave attack came in. 

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Photographed near Rabaul.
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Japanese Tunnels - Rabaul
	This tunnel at Karavia, near Rabaul PNG houses 5 barges. During Allied air raids the barges were stored in the tunnels.
The pumice hills of Rabaul are honeycombed with over 500Km of tunnels.
More tunnel photos:   http://www.milart.com.au/rabaul/AATunnels.htm

Kawanishi "Emily" Flying Boat

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TIRPITZ

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