Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. Staff members of 2/4th Field Ambulance gather together for ...

Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. Staff members of 2/4th Field Ambulance gather together for identification the dead bodies of unit members and patients killed when thirteen Japanese Zero aircraft, attacking in three waves, strafed and bombed the unit's Main Dressing Station (MDS). At the same time, the Japanese aircraft attacked 7th Division Headquarters and the US Army's 126 Combat Clearing Station which are located nearby. In all, 22 men were killed and more than 50 wounded in the attack. The bodies of the dead men have been wrapped in blankets. The attack on the MDS occurred in spite of the fact that a large Red Cross sign had been spread out on the ground to indicate to enemy aircraft that it was a medical unit.