Monday
Went bombing to Mioko Island loaded with fragmentation bombs. A beautiful day with great results. 4 hours 10 minutes flying time. Were after bivouac area.1 Plastered the triangular shaped island with buzzing bees. Mioka is located between Duke of York and Rabaul. Bombs walked down both sides of the island just barely in the water between the triangular stream in the target area, plenty of them made a beautiful pattern.
Didn’t get a letter from Bonnie today. Missed that very much. Took a shower and slept all afternoon. Wrote in book at night and also a letter to Bonnie.
Notes & Commentary
1 Wayne flew on one of the 24 B-25s from the 75th Squadron bombed Mioko Island:
May 22 – A new target, a personnel area on Mioko Island, Duke of York Group, was assigned to twenty four Mitchells. At midmorning from medium altitude 288 frag clusters (1728 x 23# bombs) were dropped into the area. Eighty five percent hit the island covering the occupied areas. Numerous fires several billowing smoke to great heights attested to the success of the bombing.
Periodic Activities Summary, 1 May 1944 – 31 May 1944, Headquarters 42nd Bombardment Group (M), 1 June 1944, microfilm B0131, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1973, frame 1620.
Wayne's Journal 