The story
7 Ki-48 bombers and 34 Ki-43 fighters attacked the new US airfield at Tsili-Tsili, Australian Papua; the Americans did not detect the incoming aircraft until 0700 hours when the Japanese were only one mile away. A Japanese bomb hit the base chapel, killing the chaplain and 6 or 7 worshipers. The Japanese lost all 7 bombers while the Americans lost 4 P-39 fighters (1 killed) and 2 C-47 transport aircraft (17 killed). The Japanese failed to damage the airstrips.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.