With all those 1944 planes include intheline up why not just make it a 1944 set up?
1943 would be something like this:
First, this write up was taken from several sources. We are using it to create a set missions or a 'mini-campaign if you like for FB/AEP/PF
The Battle of the Bismarck Sea
The battle began on February 28, 1943, when the Japanese dispatched a task force to reinforce their troops at Lae, New Guinea, in preparation for an advance across land that would ultimately take the island.
The initial task force would be composed of eight destroyers and 8 transport ships which would sail from Rabaul to Lae. However, within the first 24 hours of leaving Rabaul, an American reconnaissance plane spotted this task force. The American and Australian air forces had no other options, either sink the Japanese transports or give up New Guinea.
General George Kenney's 5th Air Force, all though being under equipped, had a variety of aircraft at his command. His B-17 Flying Fortresses were proving hard to maintain and their P-40 Kittyhawks and P-39/P-400 Airacobras were clearly outclassed by the Japanese air arm's more numerous A6M Zeros and Ki-43 Oscars. The Australians had a number of Beaufighters and Beauforts in the area, but too few to be decisive.
On the plus side, the Americans also had B-24 Liberators. Additionally, several squadrons of A-20 Havocs and B-25 Mitchells had been training in low level attacks. The 39th Fighter Squadron had recently arrived with their P-38 Lightnings.
A-20s and B-25s would fly low over enemy airfields and drop dozens of 23-pound 'parafrag' bombs. A highly modified B-25 Mitchell that carried ten .50 caliber machineguns in its nose would prove to be one of the deadliest anti-shipping aircraft. The crews of these B-25s perfected a new technique, called "skip bombing". The planes would drop their bombs right down on the deck, so low that the bombs would skip across the waves and into the sides of enemy ships. As the plane made its approach, the ten .50s on the nose would blast away at the target.
The Japanese task force's destroyer escort provided only limited air defense, but the Japanese also had a strong air arm based at Rabaul. The weather would be helpful to the Japanese. The task force was sailing under the cover of a cold front that was hammering the seas with rain.
The American air bases on the Southern side of the Owen Stanley Mountains were well supplied. Their air bases on the northern side were little more than jungle airstrips cut in and amongst the trees. Fuel and bombs were stacked in the open, an inviting target for the Japanese.
Even though the Allies had spotted the Japanese task force 24 hours after it left Rabaul numerous B-24 and B-17 scouting flights could not relocate it. On March 2nd, a lone B-24 was able to pick up the task force by flying underneath the cloud cover. The Japanese task force was spotted right at the entrance to the Vitiaz Strait that runs between New Guinea and New Britain. If the allies didn't act quickly the Japanese transports would arrive at Lae within 24 hours.
As the Japanese task force came east through the straits the weather began to clear. Without the clouds cover the task force would not be able to hide and allied air power could be brought to bear. The fate of New Guinea would come down to "Kenney's Kids", the pilots and crews of the 5th Air Force.
The first objective of the day would be to gain control of the air. At 6:30 am, a flight of six A-20s, of the 22nd RAAF Squadron, set out to bomb Lae airfield. The full length of the airstrip was peppered by over a dozen bombs as the bombers raced low across the field.
At 9:30 am 16 P-38s, of the 39th Fighter Squadron, were launched on a fighter sweep to relocate the Japanese task force. They did not locate the task force but spotted 3 Ki-43 Oscars NNW of Arawe and shot 2 of them down. While the allies were still trying to relocate the task force General Kenney took a gamble and ordered a flight of eight B-17s, out of Port Morseby, loaded with 1,000 pound bombs. They were ordered to proceed to the point where the Japanese task force was last spotted. If they were lucky they might relocate the task force on their own.
Flying between 5,000 and 7,500 feet the eight B-17s found the Japanese ships and attacked. The B-17s dropped their ordnance but had trouble assessing damage due to the sporadic cloud cover. However, they reported that one cargo ship could be seen burning with several Japanese destroyers attempting to assist it. They also spotted a dozen Japanese Oscars and Haps that were orbiting low above the task force as air cover to protect the ships.
Within the next half hour 3 more B-17s attacked claiming hits on another Japanese cargo ship. Minutes later another 11 B-17s attacked claiming more hits with their bombs. By this time the Japanese air force had arrived and almost two dozen Zeros and a half dozen Oscars were spotted.
On the water, the Japanese task force was a mess. Three destroyers, a gunboat, and five troop and cargo ships were hit by bombs. One of the ships had exploded in the water, another was sinking, and yet another was on fire. One of the destroyers was also afire and smoking heavily.
Next 2 B-24s, of the 321st Bomb Squadron, arrived and attacked the task force but scored no hits. Then a single B-24, of the 320th Bomb Squadron, while flying an armed reconnaissance sortie spotted the task force at 10:24 and tracked it updating its position. Fifteen minutes later another B-24, of the 320th Bomb Squadron, arrived and attacked claiming hits on one of the ships.
At 2:05 pm a single B-17, of the 63rd Bomb Squadron and shadowed the task force over the next four and a half hours taking numerous photographs. This B-17 reported other Japanese ships joining the task force and at least 2 leaving. As they day drifted into late afternoon things quieted down some. At 5:05 pm a single B-24 again attacked the task force. At 5:40 by a single B-17, of the 403rd Bomb Squadron, arrived on armed reconnaissance. While flying at 7,500ft the B-17 was attacked by 12 Zeros. The crew managed to drop their bombs, claiming no hits, and escaped south after taking minor damage from the Zeros.
Things were to pick back up when at 6:21 pm eight B-17s, of the 64th Bomb Squadron, and 403rd Bomb Squadron arrived to bomb the task force. One cargo vessel was reported to be sinking as a result of 2 direct hits. 15 plus Zeros and Oscars were overhead to defend the ships. 4 B-17s were damaged and several of the crew members were injured. The B-17s reported back that the task force now consisted of 16 Japanese ships.
As night fell three A-20s of the 22nd RAAF Squadron attacked Lae Airfield. Again they made a low level bomb drops over the field, this time dropping propaganda leaflets calling for the Japanese to give up the fight as well.
On March 3rd the allies would throw everything they had at the Japanese task force. Nine Beauforts of 100th RAAF Squadron made a pre-dawn torpedo attack on the task force. Reporting no hits the Beauforts escaped and did not spot any enemy fighter cover. 13 Beaufighters of the 30th RAAF Squadron attacked the Japanese convoy around 10:10 am. They strafed the Japanese cargo vessels setting one afire. The Beaufighters spotted several Zeros but escape with minimal damage and 4 crew wounded.
At 5:45 am a B-17 from the 63rd Bomb Squadron had set out to track the task force. This B-17 was able to shadow the task force until 2:20 pm reporting the task force's location and the size of the Japanese air cover. While at 9,000ft the B-17 was attacked by 2 Zeros but escaped after the tail gunner was wounded. The B-17 was able to provide a complete picture of the situation.
1. At 8:30 am a Japanese destroyer (DD) was spotted running east at 20 knots.
2. At 1025 am a convoy of eleven ships was spotted -- two were burning.
3. At 12:20 pm nine ships were observed dead in the water, five of which were burning and four were standing by.
Between 10:00 am and 10:45 am the skies above the Japanese task force were buzzing with aircraft. Dozens of attacks were made by the allies on the task force. The Japanese fighters fought back as best they could.
24 B-25C-1s, in 2 groups of 12 each, of the 90th Bomb Squadron, attacked the task force at 'mast height'. The B-25s claimed multiple hits on at least 6 Japanese ships using their practiced 'skip bombing' technique. A Japanese destroyer was hit and rolled on to its side. One cargo ship was set afire, another left dead in the water. Two other ships were hit and seen listing. Two other destroyers were hit and a second cargo ship was set afire after being strafed. A second group of B-25s attacked lighting up 3 more cargo vessels and damaging 4 others. This was the most decisive attack in the battle. While the B-25s attacked only 4 Zeros were spotted. However, anti-aircraft fire from the Japanese ships was accurate and destroyed at least 1 B-25. 2 others were hit, one ditching the other limping home.
Another group of 14 B-25s of the 71st and 405th BS, escorted by 18 P-38 Lightnings, of the 39th FS, encountered around 24 Zeros, Oscars, and Haps while on the way to strike the task force. A battle ensued and the P-38s claimed 10 Japanese aircraft shot down with the loss of 3 of their own. One P-38 pilot was spotted in a life raft. The B-25s got through to the task force and claimed 3 hits on the convoy.
