Us Official Photographs

Flying Fortresses over Rabaul harbor

Aerial view of the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain, major enemy base north of Australia, taken during a bombing raid by Flying Fortresses on Japanese shipping in which several hits and damaging near misses were scored. The General Headquarters communique describing the raid, said: "Our heavy bombers executed a successful daylight attack on enemy shipping in the harbor. A large (15,000) ton vessel was hit with heavy bombs and left in flames. A second large ship was seen sinking by the stern. Two medium-sized vessels were left in flames and listing." Eight enemy fighters intercepted the Flying Fortresses during the attack, but one was shot down and three to six others were hit and damaged. All the Fortresses returned.