85 Planes vs 2 Warships

David vs Goliath: 85 Planes Take on 2 Warships

The Battle of Rabaul, also known as "David vs Goliath," was a pivotal engagement during World War II in the Pacific theater. In this battle, 85 Allied aircraft, primarily consisting of U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) B-25 Mitchell bombers, took on two Japanese warships, the heavy cruiser Takao and the destroyer Oyashio, anchored in the harbor of Rabaul, a major Japanese naval base in New Britain.

The Allied forces, facing overwhelming odds against the heavily armed and fortified Japanese ships, launched a daring and audacious attack on the enemy fleet. Led by Colonel Harry L. Hawthorne, the Allied pilots flew low-level bombing runs, braving intense anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighter opposition to strike at the heart of the Japanese naval presence in the region.

Despite the numerical advantage of the Japanese ships, the Allied air raid on Rabaul achieved remarkable success. The surprise attack inflicted significant damage on both the Takao and Oyashio, forcing them to retreat and effectively neutralizing the Japanese naval threat in the area. The Battle of Rabaul demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated air power and showcased the bravery and skill of Allied aviators in the face of overwhelming odds.

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