by Richard Dunn | Oct 7, 2026 | Allied Forces, Japanese
Following the Allied landings at Hollandia in April 1944, the air war in New Guinea rapidly shifted westward toward Biak, Wakde, Noemfoor, Manokwari and the Vogelkopf Peninsula. During April and May, U.S. Fifth and Thirteenth Air Force bombers and fighters pressed...
by Richard Dunn | Sep 23, 2026 | Allied Forces, Japanese
The Hollandia air combat of 1944 marked the beginning of a rapid Allied advance into western New Guinea. With Japanese air strength already badly reduced by attacks on Hollandia and nearby bases, American heavy bombers pushed farther west against Noemfoor, Biak and...
by Richard Dunn | Aug 16, 2026 | Uncategorized
Walter W. “Walt” Wyatt was a World War II Army Air Forces fighter pilot who flew combat missions in China with the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group. Flying the P-51 Mustang, he was credited with eleven enemy aircraft destroyed, including one confirmed aerial...
by Richard Dunn | Jul 1, 2026 | Uncategorized
This article is Part III of a three-part series exploring the overlooked role of land-based air power in the Central Pacific during 1943. If you’re new to the series, you may wish to begin with Part I, which examines the strategic foundations of the campaign,...
by Richard Dunn | Jun 19, 2026 | Allied Forces, Japanese
By the summer of 1943, Allied leaders had begun laying the groundwork for a major offensive across the Central Pacific. While the coming battles at Tarawa and the Gilbert Islands would become famous, the months preceding those operations are often overlooked. Between...
