New Guinea campaign Daniel E. Barbey

rear admiral daniel e. barbey, usn (2nd right) other officers @ hollandia, new guinea, november 1944. present (from left right): lieutenant may; rear admiral arthur d. struble; rear admiral barbey; , lieutenant commander william s. mailliard, usnr.

for landing @ lae, barbey elected make night approach , dawn landing. lcis approached beach, set upon 3 mitsubishi g4m betty bombers score bomb hit , 2 near misses on uss lci-339. badly damaged , riddled strafing bullets , fragments, ship beached became total loss. afternoon, 6 lsts attacked force of 80 japanese aircraft. 48 lockheed p-38 lightnings vectored assist uss lst-471 , uss lst-473 hit, killing 57 crewmen , australian troops.

a few weeks later barbey called upon make landing @ finschhafen. not confident of promised air support, barbey decided make night landing, landing ships clearing beach before dawn. major general george wootten, commander of assault troops, doubted vii amphibious force find correct beach in dark, , proven correct events; vii amphibious force not yet proficient enough conduct night landings. fortunately, time japanese air attacks failed sink or damage amphibious ships. part in landings @ lae , finschhafen, barbey awarded navy cross. citation read:

the president of united states of america takes pleasure in presenting navy cross rear admiral daniel edward barbey (nsn: 0–7930), united states navy, extraordinary heroism , distinguished service in line of profession commander, amphibious force, seventh fleet, during attacks on japanese-occupied lae , finschafen in new guinea, on 4 september , 22 september 1943. singular skill , inspiring courage, rear admiral barbey led forces beachheads under relentless air attacks , expertly directed brilliantly executed landings resulted in victory our forces. sound tactical knowledge, fearless leadership , inspiring devotion duty displayed rear admiral barbey in keeping highest traditions of united states naval service.

rear admiral daniel e. barbey, brigadier general clarence a. martin , brigadier ronald hopkins observe landing @ saidor.

the battle of arawe , battle of cape gloucester involved number of firsts vii amphibious force. marked first use of australian lsi, hmas westralia, in combat, , first appearance in swpa of landing ship, dock (lsd), uss carter hall. lsd used carry amtracs, making debut in swpa, necessary cross coral reefs. fire support provided 2 lcis equipped rockets. proved successful barbey had 6 modified purpose. casualties evacuated using specially modified lcts , lsts equipped hospital ships. first time, beach party 1 participated, providing trained naval beach party first time. contrary doctrine, not affiliated particular apa. arawe operation saw first use of innovation of barbey s, landing craft control officers. however, attempt land force in rubber boats total failure, , not repeated. afterward, barbey received first equipped amphibious command ship, uss blue ridge. acquired experienced deputy in rear admiral william m. fechteler. fechteler commanded assault on admiralty islands, in apds employed in order meet army s requirement reconnaissance in force.