Location
Lat 6° 49' 60S Long 155° 43' 60E  Coastal village located 12km from Buin.

Erventa Harbor (Buin Harbor)
Harbor off Kangu beach to Kahili. This area was known as Erventa or Buin Harbor.  During the war, it was mined by US Navy aircraft and fast minelayers.

American Missions Against Kangu
September 26, 1943 - June 11, 1944

Kangu Beach
Harbor off southern Bougainville. Heavily fortified by the Japanese, in preparation for an Allied assault on the beach that never came. A battle did occur here decades later, during the Bougainville Crisis of 1991, when PNGDF had a camp at this same area, and twenty were killed in an attack by the BRA, (Bougainville Revolutionary Army).

In 2002-3, construction of a wharf at the harbor was begun as an AusAid (Australian Aid) Project. In preparation, explosive experts checked the beach, and discovered many bullets, and buried 140mm shells. Also, a series of depth charges buried on the beach, presumable to be detonated as Allies landed. These munitions were detonated by MilSearch, prior to construction.

Type 3 (1914) 140mm Naval Gun (No. 1)
Eastern edge of Kangua Beach

Type 3 (1914) 140mm Naval Gun (No. 2)
Western edge of Kangua Beach

Pillboxes & Tunnels
A large concrete pillbox over looks the beach, and tunnels are carved into the hillside road behind it.

Generator Bunker
Japanese built wartime bunker. There is a large, overgrown bunker on right just inland from the beach. It has high ceilings and the attach points for a massive metal door. Reportedly, it was used as a jail post war by the colonial administration. Today, the door is missing, but the interior of the bunker is in excellent condtion.  There is the remains of some piece of machinery or generator inside.

Metal Pillboxes
Also, a large pyramid shaped pillbox made of metal is located on the beach. It has several shooting ports, and a tank-like turret entry hatch on the top.

Jakohina Mission
Prewar mission near Kagua Hill and

Kagua Hill (Buin Mountain)
This hill has a commanding view over southern bougainville area.  After Japanese occupation, it became the site of a large Japanese anti-aircraft gun concentration and an underground hospital. The Japanese referred to the feature as "Buin Mountain" or "Mt. Buin".

Malabeta Hill (Malabita Hill)
Prior to Japanese occupation, coastwatcher Australian Paul Mason was observing in this area, and reported at 10:37am, 24 Japanese Betty bombers from Rabaul headed south on August 7, 1942 the first Japanese air raid on Guadalcanal. With advanced warning carrier planes and ships were alerted and able to intercept this raid. 

Buin-Kangu Hill Road
Road from Buin southward to Kangu Beach.

F4U-1A Corsair Bureau Number 17804
Pilot Pillsbury MIA December 21, 1943 wreckage discovered 1968

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009