Throughout the campaign in Papua
New Guinea, battle-hardened Aussie "Diggers" penetrated
the inland jungle areas where desperate Japanese troops had taken
refuge after being driven out of coastal areas. The available
5th USAAF and RAAF units performed essential close air support
and aerial re-supply functions. Depicted here are elements of
the 2nd Bomb Sqdn, 22nd Bomb Group, under difficult conditions,
bombing Japanese troop positions, November 5, 1943, very close
to those of the Australians.
Lt. Marshall T. Slater, bombardier in the B-25 nearest to the
viewer was Awarded the Air Medal, and the 22nd Bomb Group was
awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, having saturated the
area With 400 100Lb. Bombs only a few hundred yards from the
Diggers' positions. - Signed and numbered by the artist. |