Before: Buka Island, Solomons: Scattered clouds did not obscure the target enough to protect this major Jap air base on Buka Island in the Solomons from 13th Air Force bombers on 15 Sept. Eight Consolidated B-24Ds from Guadalcanal took part in the operation dropping three hundred 120-lb fragmentation clusters from 19,600ft. mostly on runway and revetment areas. Complete lack of opposition and negligible AA fire indicated a high degree of surprise.