New Guinea Blockade Following their loss of Buna and Gona during the Papuan campaign, the enemy in New Guinea attempted to reinforce Lae on the Huon Gulf, but failed. On March 1, 1943, a B-24 spotted an enemy naval convoy and in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea that followed, planes of the 5th Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force sunk 12 of the 16 ships in the convoy. An effective Allied aerial blockade had been established, blocking any Japanese attempt to reinforce Lae by using large ships. In August 1943 U.S. flyers neutralized Japanese strength at Wewak, 300 miles west of Lae, destroying some 175 planes on the ground and about 75 more in the air against only 11 U.S. aircraft lost in combat. Allied forces then moved against Lae and Salamaua by sea and air, dropping paratroops on the plains of Nadzab in the first major use of paratroops in the Pacific war. Both towns fell in mid-September and Finschhafen on Oct. 2, insuring Allied control of the Huon Gulf area. Click here to return to the Combat Pacific Overview. Find Out More Related Fact Sheets Papua Consolidated B-24D Liberator 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.