Lat 5° 15' 0S Long 154° 37' 60E  Buka island is about 50 kilometers long by some 20 kilometers wide. Located north of Bonis on Bougainville, seporated by the Buka Passage.

History
Pre-war, occupied by No.9 Section, C’ Platoon, under Lieutenant Leverett.  At the beginning of October 1941. No.3 Section of the First Independent Company, Australian Imperial Force occupied Buka. Prior to the Japanese occupation beginning on March 9, 1942, the garrison evacuated to Bougianville island. During the earlier months of the war, the Japanese garrisoned the airfield at Buka and constructed another at Bonis. After the American landings on Bougainville, and the failed Japanese counter attacks, Japanese commanders withdrew to Buka Island and fortified three areas for defense. After the American landings at Torokina, Japanese destroyers landed reinforcements of 700 troops from the 17th Army Division, and 25 tons of supplies unapposed on November 6, 1943. Japanese forces occupied the island for the duration of the war, but were neutralized from the air.

Chinatown
A Chinatown area of Buka existed before the war.

American Missions Against Buka
January 14, 1943 - January 14, 1944

Buka Airfield
Built prior to the war by Australians, occupied by the Japanese and used until the end of the war.

Unknown Aircraft Wreck
There is the wreckage (wings and empenage) of a wartime aircraft wreck off Buka runway in shallow water, likely an Allied aircraft.  In 2004, according to an informed colleague living in Buka, this plane was recently removed by unkown agents for  possible shipment to unknown location.

 

Buka Passage
The islands of Bougainville and Buka are separated by a narrow sea passage about one kilometer wide with a strong current. In the center of the passage is Sohano Island.

Matchin Bay
Located to the south of Buka. A large, sheltered deep anchorage used by the Japanese.

Stern Out of Water Wreck
A cruise ship before the war, and adapted for war usage, and sunk off Buka. Its stern out of the water is visible at low tide (as of 1970s). Shirley Cook adds: "I got a large rectangle porthole from this ship, and also another round porthole.

Ship On Its Side Wreck
One ship on its side in the passage on the west side of Bougainville, (turn left at Buka but not as far down as the stern out of the water ship). Got crockery and chopsticks from the galley, and antlers, ash tray, inkwell and vase from the Captain's cabin. David said it was the Captain's cabin as Japanese captains had the habit of Deer shooting and keeping the antlers in their cabin. This wreck was only in 60 foot of water (to the bottom), so it was a great all day dive. Also got a round porthole.

Propeller Wreck
The wreck had a big brass propellor still on it (even after the salvage guys had moved through), Shirley Cook adds "Our guys were trying to work out some way of raising the propellor. They did not and it is still there."