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Although the Japanese-held airfield at Babo, on the Vogelkop
Peninsula of Dutch New Guinea had become a backwater in the war
in the Southwest Pacific, enough enemy activity remained that
the 5th USAAF planners considered it necessary to raid the facility
on 9 July, 1944, and risk the fearsome defensive anti-aircraft
batteries of the area. Thus, 24 A-20's from the 312 Bomb Group
were tasked with executing a low-level surprise raid in hopes
of neutralizing the remaining offensive capability of the airfield.
We see here the third flight over the field, as elements
of the 389th Bomb Squadron run the gauntlet of a thoroughly alerted
defensive anti-aircraft organization, whereupon flight leader
Hedges (foreground) loses both wingmen to the defending Japanese.
- Signed and numbered by the artist. |