Stemming the Tide at Sanananda Point by Jack Fellows

On 22 July, 1942 , Norb Ruff of the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, 5th USAAF in his P-39 Airacobra was among those who attacked Imperial Japanese Army re-supply barge traffic near Sanananda Point, Buna, New Guinea, part of an intense Japanese effort to take the town of Port Moresby via the Kokoda Trail. Materials on shore indicated that the barges were making a second trip then the Allied pilots arrived, some of whom flew cover as the others attacked at low level. They were fortunate that no opposing Zeros flew out of Lae to engage in air-to-air combat.