Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 9:49AM Air raid No 13 on Moresby around 11.30am as nine bombers pattern-bomb 7-Mile aerodrome from about 23,000 feet, dropping about 70 bombs and hitting the runway five times, causing minor damage but no casualties.
Reports arrive of a Japanese air raid on Horn Island by 8 bombers with 9 fighters protecting them. RAAF p-40s (Kittyhawks) engage them and shoot down one bomber and two fighters.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 9:46AM At 9.00am six Japanese fighter planes suddenly appear over Port Moresby’s 7-Mile aerodrome from the north and strafe the airstrip for 20 minutes.
A warning of the attack was not received at Moresby because of a signal line failure. One plane was destroyed on the ground by the fighters.
Just as the fighters are leaving a light RAAF bomber returns from an attack on Jap positions at Salamaua but skillfully evades the fighters by concealing itself in cloud cover.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 10:19AM Five RAAF Flying Fortresses arrive at the Moresby aerodrome just before dawn and refuel. They take off before dawn on a bombing raid against Japanese positions on the south coast of New Britain.
No bombing raid nor enemy aircraft activity over Moresby for first time in three days.
Australian British and American forces officially surrender to Japanese at Bandoeng in Java. So far over 60,000 Allied troops are now Japanese POWs. Cambodia declares independence under Japanese protection.
Monday, March 11, 2013 at 9:12AM Moresby air raid No 11, with 12 planes attacking the main aerodrome, dropping 9 bombs on the aerodrome and another 2 bombs on part of the 39th Bn area. But once again, no damage or casualties.
Passenger ship MV Macdhui arrives in Moresby harbour this morning, bringing long-awaited mail from Australia. It’s the first mail the Diggers have received in three weeks.
Monday, March 11, 2013 at 9:11AM Japanese forces land at Finschhaven aiming to take that town and nearby Salamaua to protect their recently captured forward base at Lae.
Tenth air raid on Moresby just before noon for about half an hour, with six planes attacking from about 11,000 feet and dropping about 40 bombs, mainly along the south side of the aerodrome.
No serious damage, no casualties.