Roughly one hundred Japanese aircraft attacked from Rabaul early in the morning. American and New Zealand aircraft operating from shore helped drive them off, inflicting heavy losses. Montpelier was hit and nine men were wounded. Foote was nevertheless able to be towed away for repair, so the damaged destroyer survived the withdrawal.
Notable Point · 1:08:08-1:08:48
A dawn air attack threatened the withdrawing American ships
Land-based American and New Zealand aircraft helped repel the dawn attack while the damaged Foote was recovered.