Decreasing number of Japanese ships in the New Britain-Solomons area according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 20 May 1942

An item reported that Allied scouting aircraft above the New Britain-Solomons area saw the number of surface ships continually decreasing although Allied aircraft sunk a 8.525 gross measuring merchant ship lying at a wharf at Rabaul, New Britain [Papua New Guinea]

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 161 dated 20 May 1942