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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.