Talk:Bombing of Rabaul (November 1943)

Name and scope of article

The carrier raid was only one of a series of air attacks directed at Rabaul. Therefore, I renamed the article with the goal of it describing the entire air siege of Rabaul, from when it started in 1942 until it ended with Japan's surrender in August, 1945. Cla68 15:02, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

After reviewing more about Operation Cartwheel, it does seem appropriate to keep this article centered on the carrier attack on Rabaul in November, 1943 and the rest of the air campaign on Rabaul under the Operation Cartwheel article. I'll make the changes to the article names and campaign boxes. Sorry for the confusion. Cla68 14:29, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

Good job on the article. But I think the scope should be expanded, either here or elsewhere (maybe on the Cartwheel page). Most of the pages referenced by the Cartwheel page deal with ground or sea warfare. The air war near and over Rabaul and the Solomons was a campaign of attrition which broke the back of Japanese naval aviation-- likely moreso that the much-better known battles of Midway and Phillipine Sea (Mariana Turkey Shoot). Until 1944 IJN carrier pilots were then land-based at Rabaul, and it was this highly-trained group that was defeated by AIRSOLS and other Allied forces. Yet this campaign is little known today. Kablammo 16:14, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

I believe the land-based air campaign against Rabaul should be included in the Cartwheel article. I think this article should concentrate on the November 5 and 11, 1943 carrier raids and the name of the article should be changed to "Carrier raids on Rabaul." Cla68 00:06, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

I think land-based raids in early November could be included, otherwise the article is a bit scanty.

BTW I think articles on the Rabaul-based Japanese 11th Air Fleet and Japanese 4th Air Army would be useful. They controlled Japanese air operations in the Solomons and New Guinea. Pages on Aviation in the New Guinea campaign and Aviation in the Solomon Islands campaign would also be a great additions, but they are more of a long term proposition.

Grant65 | Talk 05:32, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

I agree. I believe that the land-based air attacks in November, '43 were done to support the carrier strikes so they do belong in the article. Those are good ideas on the other articles since the air campaigns often operated separately from the ground campaigns and battles. Cla68 07:02, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Hi Cla, I'm not really comfortable with the new name of the article for two reasons: first, there were a significant number of land based aircraft involved, and second, articles on a major air operation are usually called "Attack on ____", or "Bombing of ____". The usual way of distinguishing similar operations is to add a date. Can I suggest that we rename the article Bombing of Rabaul (November 1943)? Grant65 | Talk 05:35, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

AirSols

For some time I have been planning a history of VF-17, a famous USN squadron which was part of AIRSOLS. (There is a very short history of it now misplaced in VFA-103, where it does not belong). There is however no article on AIRSOLS itself. I don't plan on tackling that but there is a need for it, for the reasons I mentioned above. Kablammo 11:24, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

I'll try to start a stub on AIRSOLS over the next week or so. Cla68 13:32, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Sorry couldn't resist: AirSols? (Seems to be the most common spelling?) :-) 15:24, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

In civilian usage, you're probably right. The military likes to capitalize acronyms (and would capitalize punctuation if there was a way to do it.) Kablammo 16:00, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Good start on the stub. Cla68 21:22, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Glad to see that you two are continuing your interest in this subject. I look forward to working with you. Some existing articles which have some connection:

• No. 14 Squadron RNZAF
• No. 15 Squadron RNZAF
• Marine Air Group 23
• VMF 214
• VMF 223
• Cactus Air Force

and I will split off VF-17 from its existing locale and develop it further. Kablammo 16:00, 14 December 2006 (UTC)