Location
Lat 4 32' 0S Long 154 13' 60E  Largest island in in the Green Island Group. The other major Islands are Pinipel, Sirot, Barahun and Sau Islands. Nissan lies approximately 60 nautical miles northwest of Buka.

Prewar History
Occupied by the Germans who developed copra plantations on the island that operated until World War I. After 1918, Green Island was Australian Mandated. Several thousand Melanesians lived in the island group. Marist missionaries built a church, school, and dispensary. Australians operated three copra plantations: one on Barahun, and two on Nissan.

Wartime History
Occupied the Japanese during early 1942. The lagoon was used for seaplanes. During March 1942, Japanese ground forces occupied the island. As the war progressed, it was used as barge station in the supply line from Rabaul to Bougainville. As Allied air power mounted, barges would hide in the Green Island area during daylight hours before moving south at night.

Allied missions against Nissian Island (Green Island)
November 18, 1943 - February 10, 1944

Allied Reconnaissance
On January 30, 1944 a raiding party of 300 soldiers, mostly from the New Zealand Army, 30 Battalion, made a night landing on Nissan Island . After reconnoitering for 24 hours, the group was withdrawn by sea with 5 men killed and about 10 wounded. This was in preparation for a full-scale amphibious landing.

Allied Liberation
Prior to the Allied liberation, teams from two Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDU 4 and NCDU 5) frogmen cleared obstacles from the landing area. On February 15, 1944 American troops and the 3rd New Zealand Division (less the 8th Brigade) as part of Operation "Square Peg". At the time of the liberation only about 500 Japanese base troops were on Nissan, the rest had withdrawn to Feni Island.  All the defenders fought to the death, none surrendered. Organized Japanese resistance ended on February 20, but mopping up operations continued until the end of the month. New Zealand troops remain until early June 1944 when they departed for New Caledonia.

Green Island Seaplane Base
Lagoon area inside Green Island Atoll

Ocean Airfield (Green Island Nissan)
American built airfield, on the seaward side of the island.

Lagoon Airfield (Green Island, Nissan)
American built airfield, on the lagoon side of the island.

Propeller
There is a large propeller under the large tree at 'the station' just near the working airfield. No significant damage or markings on the propeller which stands about four feet high.

Unexploded Aerial Bomb
During 2006, other members of the RNZ Police liaison team were escorted to another part of the island to view a WWII relic.  The relic was an unexploded bomb on top of the ground.  It was said to have no fins and appeared to be a large air bomb.  With no map or sense of direction in this new place no accurate record can be given of the location.

Green Island PT Boat Base (Nissan)
PT Boat base at Green Island

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Last Updated
January 17, 2012