Part 1 covers the period from 15 January 1941through 25 February 1942. The unit is formed with Cadre from the 22nd Bomb Group at Langley Field, Virginia. transferred to Jackson Army Air Base for training, Pearl Harbor and movement to Australia on the Tasker H. Bliss.

Key Words: Langley Field, Jackson Army Air Base, Cow Palace, Canton Island and all Book Marks.

Part 2 covers the period from 26 February 1942 through 26 October 1942. The 38th marks time until the arrival of the air echelon with intensive military training, being used as a labor battalion building up camp areas and installing infrastructure , the air echelon arrives  and Group moves up to the Darwin area for further training and then begins to stage to Horn Island and fly combat missions to New Guinea. The Group supported the battle for Buna-Gona and earned a DUC for a running battle with the Japanese convoys arriving at Lae. The first combat crew losses  occur .                                                                                                                                             Ballarat, Key Search Terms. Ballarat Burdum, 69th Squadron, 70th Squadron, 71st Squadron, 405th Squadron, Lt. Maggart, Lt Brandon, Lt Carey, Buna, Gona, convoys.

Part 3 covers the period from October 1942 through January 1943. The 38th Bomb Group moves to New Guinea, lock stock and barrel, the first bomb group to be permently station there. Col Brian "Shanty" O'Niell assumes command.

 

Key words Buna, Lae Laloki. Durand, Ward Drome,

 

Part 4 covers the period 24 January 1943 through 31 May 1943. The battle of the Bismarck Sea was a complete victory for the 5th Air Force. The Australian Beaufighters led the 38th followed by the 3rd Attack across the convoy. Low level bombing and strafing was born in the 5th AF that day and the 38th made it a speciality the rest of the war.

Key Words: Bismarck Sea, Cape Gloucester, Major Chelli, C0l Shanty O'Neill, MacArthur, Kenney,Markham Valley, Narakapor, Nadzab, Bulibum, Angari, Yonga

Part 5 covers the period 1 June 1943 through 30 September 1943. Ground Crew Men for two new squadrons leave Camp Shanks, NY. The air crews for two new squadron, the 822nd and 823rd arrive in Australia to begin training. Wewak is destroyed by the 5th Air Force Mitchells from the 3rd Attack, 38th and 345th Bomb Groups. Major Cheli is shot down at Wewak. Shipping is hit in Wawak Harbor and Lt Barber is lost

Key search words: 822nd, 823rd, Durand Wewak, Markham Valley, Bogadjim, Alexishaven, Wewak Harbor, Lt. Grover, Lt Middlebrook, Lt Beers, Lt Paquin, Major Chelli, Lt Charles Barber

Part 6 covers the period1 October 1943 through February 1944. Shanty O'Neill returns home after burning his mouth with caustic when he reaching for his favorite dry cheese in the mess hall. The cooks had rearranged the store room and led to injury of his mouth. He was returned to the states for medical treatment and the 38th lost a great leader.The air crews and planes of the 822nd and 823rd join the Group and the 38th becomes a 4 squadron Group. Rabaul was reduced by the 5th Air Force until it was considered to have no worth while targets remaining. The 5th AF turned its attention westward towards Hollandia and began the advance to the Philippines.

Key words: Shanty, Momote, Shaggy Ridge, Alexishaven, Cape Gloucester, Madang , Nadzab, Dobodura, Wewak, But, Arawe, Wewak harbor.

 

Part 7 covers the March 1944 period and the bomb line keeps moving farther west and alway closer to Japan  Use the book morks to search the contents  

Key words: Cape Gloucester, Arawe Rabaul

Part 1 through Part 7 covered the 38th history from it's formation , early training , movement overseas, training in Australia, movement to New Guinea and missions flown through March 1944. Part 8 covers 1 January 1943 through 15 January 1943 and is the beginning of a more detailed story starting in January of 1943 of the of the day to day missions flown by the 38th.  MIssions are listed by day/month/year, the Mission Number and the target. Please use the bookmarks to search the narrative.

Key words: Sanananda, Lae, Finschaven, Gasmata, Bismarck Sea

Part 9 covers the period from 16 January 1943 through 31 January 1943. The 38th was busy pounding Lae and surrounding area. Please use the book marks to search by mission number, date and target

Key words: Finchaven,Lae, Gasmata

Covers the period of Feb 1 through Feb 13. 1943

Key words - none use Bookmarks

The 38th was tasked to fly top cover for shipping as protection against Japanese submarines. The Group pounded the Lae Area and the supply areas from Gasmata to Finschaven unrelentlaessly. Lae was becoming a "milk run".

 

Key words: Lae, Gasmata,Finschaven, Cape Gloucester,Angari

Missions are book marked by mission Number, date and target.

The Battle of the Bismarck Sea was a decisive victory for the 5th AF. The Japanese never attempted reinforce from the Rabaul Side and all Jap reinforcements were sent to Wewak.

Key words; Convoy Patrol. Lae ,Finschaven. The pages are book marked and easier to search using the book marks.

The last half of March 1943 wa spent protecting our convoys as they built up the supplies and manpower in the Buna-Gona area. Also a lot of area was photographed to bring our ground maps up to date.

Key Words; use book marks to locate mission number,date and target

The first 16 days of April 1943 were spent flying top cover for convoys. Japanese submarines were active in the waters surrounding New Guinea and were the only means of supply to Lae after the battle of the Bismarck Sea. The 38th flew a few stikes against supply and storage areas in the Lae-Finschaven areas,

Key words: Use the book marks to navigate within the page of history

The 38th was not heavily engaged during the month of April 1943. A lot of training was done and protecting our shipping as they delivered supplies to the Dobodura area for the Infantry and the airfields being constructed. Many Reccos were flown and much mapping of the entire area was accomplished.

Key Words: The pages are book marked as to Mission Number, Date and Type or Target

Part 16 Covers May 1, 1943 to May 16 1943. The 38th was flying convoy cover and striking the Gasmata and Cape Gloucester areas as well as Lae and Finschaven ares. Barge searchs, transporting General Whitehead and other officers to Milne Bay and Dobodura. The weather was a factor in cancellation of a couple of missions.

Use the Book marks to search the files. The book marks are by mission number , followed by the date and last the target or type.

Part 17 covers the activities of the 38th from 17 May 1943 through the end of the month. Barge searchs, convoy top cover , strikes against the Gasmata A/D and surrounding area as well as The Cape Gloucester A/D and supply areas.

Key words: Use the book marks to navigate to items of interest.

Covers period 1 June 1943 - 15 June 1943. The war had slowed down and the Allies were consolidating and resuppling the Buna-Gona ground forces. The 38th was attacking the Japanese supply routes, dumps and Air Fields. Many sub patrols were flown protecting against submarines that theartened the supply ships.

Please use the book marks to search by date or mission number.

The second half of the month was a repeat of the first half. The 38th ran sub patrols flew strikes against suspected supply areas and trained hard in formation flying and low level skip bombing.

Please use the Book marks to search for missions and dates.

The first half of the month of July 1943 saw the 38th busy training and flying top cover for convoys moving in and out of Port Morseby. Attack missions were flown against land targets in and around Lae and Finschaven.

Use the Book Marks to navigat the files

The last part of July 1943 saw the two new Squadrons that had been training in Australia starting to arrive at  Durand and integrating with the 71st and 405th Missions were flown against land targets around Lae and Finschaven, Flying top cover as protection against Japanese submarines were numerous.

Use the Book Marks to navigate the file

The first week of August was taken up with Barge sweeps  and training flights. The two squadrons in Australia were due to move up to Durand during the month.

Key words none. Use the book marks

Barge sweeps from Finschhaven to Bogadjim and Roads and bridges in the Bogadjim-Yaula area.

search using book marks

The 3rd week of Aug 1943 looms large in the history of the 38th. Major Cheli was shot down and although the left engine was on fire he led the Squadron across the target and then ditched off shore. This earned Maj. Cheli the Congressional Medal Of Honor. The Japanese lost their air force at Wewak that day and the 5th AF made MacArthur's return to the Philippines much closer in time.

Key words" Cheli, Gay,  Lackness, Middlbrook The missions are book marked

The harbor, at Wewac and Hansa Bay along with the Air Fields at But, Dagua and Wewac are visited and revisited during the last part of Aug 1943. A narrative account from each squadron has been added to the report. Use the book marks to navigate the dates.

Key words: Dagua, But, Wewac, Hansa Bay

The first half of September was spent attacking The Wewac A/D complex and eliminating the barges that the Japanese were using to transport supplies and men along the coast from Wewak to Lae. The sea route from Rabaul had been closed with thr Battle of the Bismarck Sea in early March 1943.

Key Words-None use the Book marks

The last two weeks of Sept. were spent flying barge sweeps and the entire 5th AF was pounding what remained of The A/D's at Wewac and supply dumps, roads and bridges. The Third Attack, 345th and the 38th were doing the low level work and the B-24's were making all Japanese Landin strips look like swiss cheese.

Use the Book Marks to navigate the missions and dates. The Narratives being written after each mission are interesting. Some are difficult to read but you can expand the pages and they are easier.

The 38th Bomb Group picked up 2 new squadrons his month. The Group is now composed of Headquarters,71st,405th,822nd and 823rd squadrons. Missions were flown against Wewac, Alexishafen, Madang Lae and Bogadjim. The Australian 7th Division was slowly gaining in their march westword on the north coast od New Guinea.

Use the book marks to navigate the files.

 

The 38th was sending plane to Kiriwina Island to fly weather Reccos out into the approaches of Rabaul check ing the weather patterns. The 5th AF was preparing to take out Rabaul with a series of massive raids on the harbor and Air Fields that the Japanese had been reinforcing since the first days of the war.

Use Book Marks to navigate the files.

The 38th continued to put pressure on the supply roads and dumps and striking areas ahead of the advancing Australian 7th Division.

Book Marks are available to search the files

The month of October was a good one for the 38th. The new squadrons were meshing in with the old experienced people and were rapidly assuming their share of the battle. Training was the order of the day for all squadrons with several strikes against battered air fields and installations.

Use the Book marks to Navigate the Files

The month of October ends with the 5th Air Force in position to attack and eliminate Rabaul as a strong hold for the Imperial Japanese Navy and Air Force. Time runs out on the harbor and air fields that have held up the Allied advances since the war began in December of 1941. The American Navy was getting stronger with each passing month. Replacement air craft were flowing to the South West Pacific in ever increasing numbers.

Use the Book Marks to navigate the files.

Part 33 is part of the Nov 1942 period. During November 1943 the 5th Air Force concentrated Rabaul. After a series of attacks Rabaul was no longer considered a wort while target and the 5th began moving from island to island alway headed closer to the Philippines.

Key words: Rabaul, Cape Gloucestor, Dobodura. Hungerpiller, Best, Nadzab

The 5th Air Force concentrates on Cape Gloucestor and the western portion of New Britian Ialand. The western part of the Bismarck Sea  and the airfields are kept unuseable and Japanese shipping is hunted down where ever it is found.

Key words: Cape Gloucestor, Madang. Kiriwina.Goodenough Island, Nadzab.Durand

November 1943 and the 38th keeps up the atacks on Cape Cloucestor and the  western part of the Bismarck Sea. The missions are bookmarked

 

Key words; Cape Gloucestor, Gasmata, New Britian Wewak Harbor

November 1943 and the allies are preparing Cape Gloucestor for invasion in December 1943. The group is busy patrolling the western end of the Bismarck sea and keeping the Japanese air force on the defensive. The bookmarks are by mission number and date.

 

Key words Bismarck sea, Cape Gloucestor, New Britian, Madang, Plantation

The month of November 1943 is closed out with the 38th continuing to attack the western end of the Bismarck sea and the western end of New Britian Island.

Key Words: New Britian, Cape Gloucestor, convoy patrol, sub patrol, Alexishafen.

This space reserved for December 1, 1943-December 8, 1942 We have searched the AFHRA and the archives in Washington, DC and found nothing.

This space reserved for December 9, 1943-December 17, 1943. We have searched the AFHRA and National Arcive for these missing files. Nothing availaable.

This space reserved for Dec 18, 1943-December 25, 1943. We have searched the AFHRA and the National Archives without success.

Part 41 is reserved for the period 27 December, 1943-december 31,1943

Part 41 is reserved for the period january 1, 1944-January 7, 1944. We have searched the AFHRA and National Archives for the montths of December 1943 and January 1944 with out success.

Part 43 is reserved for the period January 1,, 1944 -7 January 1944. We have searched the AFHRA and National Archives for these two monthand found nothing.

We have searched AFHRA and the National Archives for the month of December 1943 and the month of January 1944 with out success.

This space reserved for period January 24, 1944-January 31 1944 We have searched the AFHRA and National Archives for the month of December 1943 and the month of January 1944 with out success.

Part i covers the Period 1 February 1944 thrugh 6 February 1944

 

Key words But Drome, Madilon Plantation,Gragrar Island

Part 47 covers the 2nd week of February 1944. The 5th was softening up Targets west from Lae. Use the book marks to navigate part 47.

Part 48 covers the 3rd week of February 1944. The book marks are by date and mission number.

Key words: New Hanover Island, Momote Drome, Daviong township, Kaviang, New Ireland

 

Part 49 c0vers the last 10 days of February 1944. Use the book marks by day and mission number.

Keywords: Momote, Bismarck Sea Area, Boram Drome, Saland Plantation, Los Negros Island, Lorengau Township.

Part 50 covers the period 1 Mar 1944 to 15 Mar 1944. use the book marks to navigate by date and mission number.

 

Key Words: Lorengan Township, Momote, Los Negros Island, Manus Island, Dobodura, Nadzab, Wewak, Annenberg, Brandi Plantation, Kairiru,Island.

Part 51 covers the 8th through of March 1944. Navigate by Date and Mission Number using the book marks.

Key Words: Brandi Plantation, Boram, Wewak

Part 52 covers the period 12 to the 23rd of March 1944. Use the book marks to navigate by date and mission number.

Keywords: Boram, Barges, Wewak, Awar Point, Kairiru Island, Cape Moem.

Part 53 covers the period of 25 March 1944 through 31March 1944. Use the book marks to navigate to the date and mission number.

Keywords: Wewak Mission, Dagua Airdrome, Shipping sweep, Hansa Bay, Tadji emergency strip, Tadji north drome, Muschu.

Part 54 covers the period 1 April 44 - 5 April 44 The 5th  Air Force was visiting Hollandia on a regular basis.

Key Words: St Amma's Plantation, Aitape, Tumleo Island, Saidor, Cyclops Drome, Hollandia, Santani, Humboldt Bay.

Part 55 covers the period 5 April 1944 - 11 April 1944

Key Words: Humboldt Bay, Wadki, Cape Moem, Tadji, Wewak

Part 56 covers the period 11 April 1944 - 15 April 1945

Key Words: Wewak, Boram, Hollandia Area, Sepik Area, NOR Village, Aitape.

Part 57 covers the period from 16 April 1944-19 April 1944.

Key Words: Stuber's Plantation, Hoolandia, Raimu Valley, Wewak Area.

Part 58 covers period of April 19 1944 - April 24 1944

Key Words: Koraka Village, Search Mission, Kumai Patch, Tadji Airdrome, Relia Villiage, Valif Island, Hansa Bay, Potsdam Plantation.

Part 59 covers the period 25 April 1944 - 30 April 1955.

Key Words: Supply Dropping, Hollandia Drome, Wakde Island, Maffin.

Part 60 covers the period 1 May 1944 - 5 May 1944.

Key Words: Hollandia, Wewak and Boram Dromes, Escort Mission, Weather Recco, Sawar.

Part 61 covers the period 7 May 1944 - !2 May 1944.

Key words: Sawar, Wom Point, Tadji, Hollandia, Wakde Island.

Part 62 covers the period 13 May 1944 - 16 May 1944.

Key Words: Boram, Sepia River,

Wakde Island, Insoemani Island.

Part 63 covers 17 May 1944 - 21 May 1944.

Key Words: Sawar Village, Karawop Area, Dagua-But, Jap Headquarters.

Part 64 covers the period 21 May 1944 - 26 May 1944.

Key Words: Cape Karawop, Kengen and Suau Villages, Wisling, Jap Headquarters, Wewak, Dobo, Merauke, Biak, Otawari Strip.

Part 65 covers the period 21 May 1944 - 31 May 1944.

Key Words: Babo Drome, Otawiri, Merauke. Timoeka, Dutch New Guinea

Part 66 covers the period 1 June 1944 - 7 June 1944.

Key Words: Oemari, Timoeka, Babo, Catalina. Kokenau, Hollandia, Sorido, Borokoe, Biak Island

Part 67 covers the period 7 June 1944 - 15 June 1944.

Key Words: Yakamul Village, Charov Village.

Part 068 covers the period from 15 June 1944 to 20 June 1944. The 38th moves to Hollandia.

Please use the book marks to search the file.

Part 69 covers the period from 21 June 1944 - 25 June 1944.

Key Words: Tarokoe River, Karararbee Island, Sele Strait, Mokmer Drome, Tor River.

Part 70 covers the period from 26 June 1944 - 30 June 1944.

Key Words: Manokwari, Ransiki Drome.

Part 71 covers te period 1 JUly 1944 - 9 July 1944.

Key Words: Noemfoor, Hollandia, Owi.

Part 72 covers the period 10 July 1944 - 15 July 1944 The dates are bookmarked

Key Word: Marchesa Bay, Samate Bay, Biak, Sorong Area, Tanahmerah Bay, Kokas, Awabiandi Village.

Part 73 covers the period 16 July 1944 - 22 July 1944. The dates are book marked.

Key Words: Sele Straits, Biak.

Part 74 covers the period 23 June 1944-28June 1944. There are are bookmarks for the dates and misssions

Key Words: Hollandia, Jf.Lio terminal, Sorong, Sele Straits, Biak, Lolobata, Galela Drome.

Part 75 covers the period from 1 Aug 1944 - 16 Aug 1944. No missions were flown and the time was spent training new crews and squadron and group personnel training.

Key Words: Lolobata, Biak.

Part 76 covers the period 17 Aug 1944 - 31 Aug 1944.

Key Words: Horoko, Liang, Namlea Township Air Drome, Amahai Drome, Boe Village, Talaud Island, Kace Air Dromes, Halmahera Island, Bobolo Bay.

Part 77 covers the period 1 Sept 1944 - 5 Sept 1944.

Key Words: Langoan, Celebes, Weather Recco, Pitoe Drome, Tobello Village.

Covers period 4 Sept 1944 - 7 Sept 1944

Key Words Dodinga Bay, Jetty, Barge, Kaoe Township, Morotai, Galela A/D, Wasile Village.

Part 79 covers the period from 7 Sept 1944 - 11 Sept 1944

Key Words: Morotai, Halmahera, Old Namlea, Piroe Bay, Kairatoe A/D, Ceram.

Part 80 covers the period from 11 Sept 1944 - 15 Sept 1944.

Key Words: Kairato Village, Boroke Strip, Kaoe, Wasile, Cape Borop.

Part 81 covers the period from 15 Sept 1944 - 19 Sept 1944. mission dates and numbers are book marked.

Key Words : Langoan, Kakas Village, Magpanget A/D

Part 82 covers the period from 20 Sept 1944 - 25 Spt 1944.

Key Words: Mapanget A/D, Sidate, Parik Village, DDT Spraying.

part 83 covers the period from 25 Sept 1944 - 30 Sept 1944.

Key Words: Sagan, Otawira, Spray Missions.

Part 84 covers the period of 1 Oct 1944 - 5 Oct 1944.

Key Words: Wauwah, Batjen Island, Ceram, Halmahara, Weda Bay, Biak.

Part 85 covers the period 5 Oct 1944 - 9 Oct 1944.

Key Words: Ceram, Pengun Island, 41st Division, Hollandia, Ambo, Lateri Village.

 

Part 86 covers the period from 9 Oct 1944 - 19 Oct 1944.

Key Words: Ambon, Catalina, Langoan, Walabano A/D.

Part 87 covers the period from 20 Oct 1944 - 31 Oct 1944.

Key Words: Negros Island, Dumaguete A/D, Tawi Tawi, Mindanao Sea, Galela A/D, Dalio A/D

Part 88 covers the period from 1 Nov 1944 - 9 Nov 1944.

Key Words; Lahug Drome, Galena, Sidate, Del Monte A/D, Kilbawe A/D, Kaoe A/D.

Part 89 covers the period from 10 Nov 1944 - 14 Nov 1944. The 38th was striking Japanese A/Ds in the southern Philipines and the Halmaheras.

Key Words: Leyte, Jap Convoy, Ormoc Bay, Matina A/D, San Roque A/D.

 

Part 90 covers the period from 16 Nov 1944 - 18 Nov 1944

Key Words: Lahug A/D, Mita A/D, Morotai, Ormoc Village, Dulag, Tacloben.

Part 91 covers the period from 17 Nov 1944 - 23 Nov 1944.

Key Words: Lahug, Leyte, Cebu, Sidate, Bacolod A/D

 

Part 92 covers the period from 22 Nov 1944 - 26 Nov 1944.

Key Words: Kaoe, Matina A/D, Supply Dumps, Lacarlota, Hetetabako.

Part 93 covers the period from 28 Nov 1944 - 30 November 1944.

 Key Words: Galela, Tarakan, Doro Village, Hetetabako A/D, Damaguete

Part 94 covers the period from 1 Dec 1944 - 4 Dec 1944.Please note that pages were scanned in reverse order.

Key Words: Hetetabako, lolabato A/D, Galela, Barges, Kendari A/D.

Part 95 covers the period from 4 Dec 1944 - 9 Dec 1944.

Key Words: Lolabata, Del Monte A/D, Galela A/D.

Part 96 covers the period frpm 10 Dec 1944 - 16 Dec 1944.

Key Words: Padada A/D, Shipping Search, Damaguete A/D, Mindanoa Island.

Part 97 covers the period from 17 Dec 1944 - 21 Dec 1944.

Key Words:Silay A/D, San Roque A/D, Fabrica A/D, lolobata A/D.

 

Part 98 covers the period 21 Dec 1944 - 25 Dec 1944.

Key Words: San R0que A/D, Fabrica A/D, Davao Gulf.

Part 99  covers the period fro 25 Dec 1944 - 31 Dec 1944.

Key Words: Zamboanga, Tarakan A/D, Davao Gulf, Harbor, Sidate, Tarakan.