Bombing of Ballale Island

 US NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS  - http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/comms/

1943

No. 254

January 15

During this same night "Flying Fortresses" bombed Ballale Island in the Shortland area.

January 16

 During the afternoon and evening Ballale Island was again attacked by "Flying Fortresses" and fires visible for 50 miles were started.

No. 258

January 20/21

During the night of January 20th-21st U. S. aircraft carried out several harassing attacks on enemy installations on Ballale Island off the Northeast coast of Shortland Island.  Results were not observed.

No. 260

January 23

A Flying Fortress bombed enemy positions at Kahili and Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area.

No. 263

January 26

At dusk a formation of Flying Fortress heavy bombers (Boeing B-17),  heavily bombed the Japanese airfield on Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area and started fires in the revetments.  Weak antiaircraft fire was encountered.

No. 248

February 15

During the evening, three U. S. planes were dispatched to attack Japanese positions in the Shortland Island area.  One of the planes dropped bombs on enemy positions on Ballale Island. One U. S. plans failed to return.

No. 295

February 28

A force of Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated PB4Y) and  Avenger torpedo planes (Grumman TBF) attacked Japanese shipping  off Buin and bombed the enemy airfields at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area.  An enemy cargo ship was hit,  blew up and sank.  Large fires were started at Kahili and  Ballale and an enemy plane was destroyed on the ground.  One U.  S. plane failed to return.

No. 299

March 3

Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated PB4Y) dropped bombs in the Japanese-held areas at Kahili, Buin, Ballale and Vila in the northwestern Solomons.  Results were not observed.  All U. S. planes returned.

March 4

During the morning, Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated B-24) bombed Japanese installations at Buin, at Kahili and on Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area.  Antiaircraft fire was encountered and results could not be observed.  All U. S. planes returned.

No. 302

March 6

During the morning, Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated) bombed and started fires in the enemy held areas at Kahili, Buin and Ballale in the Shortland Island area.

No. 303

March 7

Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated PB4Y) attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and on Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area and bombed enemy positions at Vila on Kolombangara Island. An enemy cargo ship at Kieta on Bougainville Island was also attacked by a Liberator. Results of the above attacks were not observed.

No 304

March 7/8

During the night of March 7/8, Liberator heavy bombers carried out minor bombing attacks on Japanese installations at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area, and at Vila and Rekata Bay in the central Solomons. Results were not observed. All U. S. planes returned.

No. 305

March 9

During the morning, Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated) dropped bombs in the enemy areas at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area and at Munda and Vila in the central Solomons. Results were not observed. All U. S. planes returned.

No. 307

March 11

During the early morning, Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated PB4Y) carried out minor bombing attacks on Japanese positions at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area and at Vila in the central Solomons. Results were not observed. All U. S. planes returned.

No. 308

March 12

During the early morning, Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated B/24) carried out minor bombing attacks on Japanese positions at Ballale, in the Shortland Island area, and at Vila and Munda in the New Georgia Group.

No 309

March 12/13

During the night of March 12/13, Liberator heavy bombers carried out minor bombing attacks against Japanese positions at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area, and at Vila and Munda in the central Solomons. Hits in the enemy area at Ballale started a large fire.

No. 316

March 16/17

During the night of March 16/17, Liberator heavy bombers carried out minor attacks on Japanese positions at Munda and Vila in the central Solomons and at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area. Results were not observed.

No. 317

March 18

U. S. Army Flying Fortresses (Boeing B/17) carried out minor attacks against Japanese positions at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area and at Vila in the central Solomons. Results were not observed.

No. 348

April 18

During the night, Flying Fortresses (Boeing B-17), Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers and Avenger (Grumman TBF) torpedo bombers attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and shipping at Ballale, in the Shortland Island area. A tanker and a cargo ship were possibly damaged.

No. 358

April 27

During the early morning, a group of Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area and at Vila in the Central Solomons. Fires were started at Ballale and at Vila.

No. 357

May 6/7

On the night of May 6/7, Liberator (Consolidated) heavy bombers, attacked Japanese positions on Kahili, Fauro Island and Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area.

No. 375

May 12

During the morning, Flying Fortress (Boeing B-17) heavy bombers bombed Japanese positions on Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area, and started a large fire.

No. 377

May 13

In the early morning, a Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bomber attacked Japanese installations at Kahili while another Liberator bombed Ballale Island, in the Shortland Island area. Results of these attacks were not observed.

No. 378

May 13

During the night Flying Fortress (Boeing B-17) heavy bombers attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and on Ballale Island, in the Shortland Island area. Large fires were started.

May 13

During the night Japanese shipping in the Buin area was again attacked by Avenger torpedo planes while Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and on Ballale Island.

No. 386

May 21

On May 20/21, during the night, Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated) attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and Ballale in the Shortland Island area. Hits were scored on the runway and enemy searchlight positions at Kahili.

No. 414

June 16

On June 16, during the night, Army Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers attacked Japanese positions on Ballale Island, Shortland Island Area. Results were not observed. One U. S. bomber is missing.

No 419

June 18

On the same night, Mitchell (North American B-25) medium bombers attacked Ballale Island, Shortland Area. In Wilson Strait (south of Vella Lavella Island) six Japanese barges were strafed.

No. 424

June 26

During the early morning a formation of Army Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers attacked Japanese positions on Ballale Island, Shortland Island area. A number of fires were started.

No. 425

June 27

During the early morning Army Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers bombed Kahili, Buin Area, and Munda, New Georgia, while Navy Liberator (Consolidated PB4Y) bombers carried out attacks against Ballale Island, Shortland Area. Results of these attacks were unobserved.

No. 435

July 6

On the evening of July 5, Army Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers attacked Japanese installations on Ballale Island, Shortland Island Area. Five fires were started. About 12 Zero fighters attempted to intercept but were driven off. No U. S. losses were sustained.

No. 436

July 6

During the evening of July 6, Army Flying Fortress heavy bombers attacked Ballale Island, New Georgia Group, and started large fires.

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