Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode 288,

The Fall of Rebao.

Last time, forces of the Japanese Empire, needing to cut off Australia from the other allies,

sent out an invasion force towards New Guinea, the South Seas detachment from Guam,

and the South Seas naval forces from truck.

Yet before the large island just above Australia could be conquered, these smaller islands, to

its east coast, had to fall first, New Britain and New Ireland.

Even better for the invaders, with the possession of these two, the Japanese would then be free

to turn west towards New Guinea, but also to the southeast, to take the Solomon Islands,

or further south, to Australia.

In essence, they sought to control the center of this local chessboard.

The Australian man to Larkforce, whose task it was to defend Rebao, the major port city

on New Britain, had already been told by their superiors they were to be sacrificed.

Yet Colonel Scanlan wasn't having any of that.

Canberra might not send reinforcements and order Larkforce to oppose the enemy's landing,

but the Colonel was going to do his best to make sure his men did not die in vain.

Further, as the Japanese sent an air-tax during January to soften up the defenses at Rebao,

Wing Commander LaRou did his best with what he had.

After that, it was just a matter of waiting.

On January 21, the Japanese fleet was only 65 miles, or 104 kilometers, from Rebao.

That same day, Vice Admiral Chi-Chi Nagumo in charge of the naval fleet coming from

truck sent off fighters and bombers from all four of his carriers towards Rebao, yet it

...