Allied aircraft sighted sighted large number of ships at Rabaul according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 8 August 1942

An item reported that Allied aircraft sighted on 6 August in Rabaul harbor [Papua New Guinea] 8 Japanese naval vessels (cruisers and destroyers), 10 merchant ships and 8 other vessels.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No.241 dated 8 August 1942.