 Late in the day, a force of around 30 Japanese bombers, escorted by up to 40 fighters, from the Wewak-based 4th Air Army based was sent to attack Allied shipping around Finschhafen.Forewarned by the destroyer , which was serving as an air picket and fighter controller in the Vitiaz Strait, the Allies were able to concentrate five squadrons of US fighter aircraft over the convoy and in the aerial battle that followed 39 Japanese aircraft were shot down and the raid turned back.The next day the Australians commenced their advance south towards the village of Finschhafen, about south of the landing beach, with the 2/15th Infantry Battalion leading the way to the Bumi River.