July 21, 1942
(IJN) Japanese floatplane
machine guns Buna station [Read Account]
(IJA) Japanese General Horii commanding
South Seas Force disembarks at Gona in the afternoon, completing the landing
operation during the night. Japanese forces arrive with horses and bicycles
and move inland across the Own Stanley Mountains in hopes of capturing Port Moresby.
July 22, 1942
Ayatosan Maru is sunk off Gona by USAAF and RAAF aircraft. RAAF
32 Squadron Hudson A16-201 (Cowan,
Taylor, Polack & Sheard) shot down outside
Popondetta by Zeros of the Tainan Kokutai after attacking the Japanese beachhead.
September 23, 1942
RAAF 30 Squadron Beaufighter
A19-1 (Sayer & Mairet) crashes in diving attack on Buna. Wreckage located
in 1946.
November 26, 1942
RAAF 22 Squadron Boston
A28-22 (McDonald, O’Neill & Napier) explodes mid-air when attempting
to dive bomb targets at Buna.
November 30, 1942
U.S. Army General Robert Eichelberger received his orders for the Buna
operation from General Douglas MacArthur at his new headquarters in Governor
General's Residence in Port Moresby "Bob…I want you to take
Buna, or not come back alive."
December 5, 1942
Bren Gun Carriers
operated by the 2/7th Infantry Battalion attempt an assault against Cape
Endaiadere and are all
are destroyed with six KIA (Armstrong, Davies, Fergusson, Orpwood, Seager & Walker).
Douglas Roy “Jock” Taylor is awarded the Distinguished Conduct
Medal.
December 7, 1942
AMF 49th Battalion
makes its first attack in approximately 20 months of service at the
Killerton Track junction [near Sanananda]. 14 officers and 215 soldiers (48%
of Battalion strength) are killed or wounded in 5 hours.
December 9, 1942
Gona falls to Australian infantry.
Australian Battalion commander Lt. Col. Ralph Honner sent
the famous signal: "Gona's Gone"
December 11, 1942
RAAF: 4 Squadron Wirraway
A20-485 (Smith & Bain) down near Gona.
December 15, 1942
RAAF: 1 OTU Hudson
A16-36 (Pedrina, Kerr, Itzerott & Callaghan) crashes when attempting to
drop supplies to troops at Soputa.
December 18, 1942
First Allied tank
action in Papua New Guinea
M3 Stuart tanks of the 2/6th Armoured Regiment
support troops of the 2/9th Infantry Battalion at Cape Endaiadere.
December 24, 1942
USN: PT-122 claims to sink Japanese
submarine I-22 off Gona (8-32 S,
148-17 E).
December 26, 1942
RAAF 4 Squadron Wirraway
A20-103 (Archer & Coulston) successfully shot down Japanese Ki-43 Oscar
of the 11th Sentai.
January 4, 1943
Roy John Schmidt,
39th Battalion, AMF KIA along the Sanananda Track.
January 17, 1943
RAAF 4 Squadron Wirraway
A20-492 (Hart & Phillips) shot down near Gona.
Valor at Buna
Medal of Honor
Sgt Elmer J. Burr (Menasha WI) 32nd Inf
Division deliberately threw himself atop an enemy grenade December 24, 1942.
Sgt Kenneth E. Greunnert (Jefferson, WI) 32nd
Inf Division wounded and killed attacking pillboxes December 24, 1942.
Australia Distinguished Conduct Medal
ALLEN, RICHARD WESLEY
Conspicuous gallantry & bravery
at Sanananda 21 Jan 43.
BLAIR, CLIVE
Outstanding courage & leadership Gona Area
7 Dec 42.
EDGELL, REGINALD GEORGE
Conspicuous courage near Gona Mission
6 & 11 Dec 42.
ELLIS, STANLEY JOHN
Conspicuous gallantry & bravery Gona
Mission 15/17 Dec 42.
JESSE, JAMES HENRY
Cool courage & remarkable leadership
Cape Endaiadere 18/22 Dec 42.
MILLER, STANLEY GEORGE
Conspicuous gallantry & courage
at Soputa Nov 42.
ROACH, REGINALD EDWIN
Outstanding courage, gallantry & leadership
Gona.
SPENCER, GEORGE GRENVILLE
Conspicuous gallantry & bravery
at Buna on 26 Dec 42.
TAYLOR, DOUGLAS ROY
Conspicuous gallantry & bravery Cape
Endaiadere 5 Dec 42.
THOMAS, ROBERT REGINALD
Conspicuous gallantry at Cape Endaiadere 18/22 Dec 42.
THOMPSON, ROBERT HENRY
Outstanding bravery & leadership
Gona Beach 6/7 Dec 42.
