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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. |