Bombing of Wewak

Bombing of Wewak
Part of World War II, Pacific War

13 August 1943, a pair of B-25 Mitchells bombs the Wewak area, in the lead-up to the devastating raids of 17 and 18 August.
Date17–21 August 1943
Location
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 United States
Australia Australia
 Japan
Commanders and leaders
George Kenney Kumaichi Teramoto
Strength
47 heavy bombers;
53 medium bombers;
80 fighters
200 aircraft[1]
Casualties and losses
10 destroyed 174 put out of action:
54 shot down
16 blown up
57 badly damaged
47 slightly damaged

The Bombing of Wewak was a series of air raids by the USAAF Fifth Air Force, on 17–21 August 1943, against the major air base of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force on the mainland of New Guinea, at Wewak. The four raids, over a five-day period, represented a decisive victory for the Allies: the Japanese Fourth Air Army lost about 170 planes on the ground and in the air, reducing its operational strength to about 30 planes. Ten aircraft from the U.S. Fifth Air Force were lost.

  1. ^ Boyer, Allen D. "Shooting up Wewak". America in WWII. Retrieved 1 April 2021.