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.

History
First occupied by the Germans, and after WWI, Australian Mandated. Several thousand Melanesians lived in the island group. The 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 at the start of the war. The lagoon was used for seaplanes. Months later, Japanese ground forces occupied the area during March 1942. 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.

Green Island Seaplane Base
Lagoon area inside Green Island Atoll

Allied Missions Against Green Island
American & New Zealand Missions against Green Island Atoll

New Zeland Liberation
A 300-strong raiding party, most of whom were from New Zealand's 30 Battalion, made a night landing on Nissan Island on 30 January 1944. After reconnoitering for 24 hours, the group was withdrawn by sea with 5 men killed and about 10 wounded.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.

Operation "Square Peg" by the 3rd New Zealand Division (less 8 Brigade) and United States troops on February 15, 1944. At the time of the liberation only about 500 base troops were on Nissan, the rest had withdrawn to Feni Island.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 when they departed for New Caledonia.

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.

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Last Updated
November 27, 2009