Image of the Air Force wings with the museum name underneath

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
FREE Admission & Parking

Papua

In July 1942 enemy troops on the Papuan peninsula on the northeast coast of New Guinea began an advance across the Owen Stanley Mountains against Port Moresby. Exhausted Australian ground forces, reinforced by troops flown to the scene, halted the enemy less than 30 miles from Port Moresby and then took the offensive. By January 1943, the Allies had eliminated all organized enemy resistance on Papua.

During the Papuan campaign, Allied air forces played a vital role through close air support of ground troops, aerial transport of men and materiel and by attacks on enemy shipping. At the same time, the 5th Air Force was perfecting such new weapons and tactics as parachute bombs and low-altitude skip bombing against ships. It also was proving the value of mounting additional forward-firing guns in A-20s and B-25s and was pioneering the devastating low-level attack methods for which the 5th was to become famous.


Click here to return to the Combat Pacific Overview.

 

Find Out More
Line
Related Fact Sheets
Douglas A-20G Havoc
North American B-25B Mitchell
Line
Other Resources
USAF Historical Study No. 17: Air Action in the Papuan Campaign (Provided by AFHRA)
Line
Note: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the National Museum of the USAF, the U.S. Air Force, or the Department of Defense, of the external website, or the information, products or services contained therein.