Lat 8° 40' 0S Long 148° 24' 0E  Village located along the coast of New Guinea.

Pre-War
Site of the pre-war government headquarters, known as Buna Station. Japanese seaplanes attacked in mid-July [ Account by Allan Champion, Resident Magistrate ]

Japanese Occupation
Japanese landed at Buna on the night of July 21-22, 1942. They advanced inland to Popondetta then onto the Kokoda Trail. Japanese General Horii arrived at Buna on August 18, 1942. At the height of their campaign, they had 16,000 troops in this region alone. Their aim was to capture Port Moresby over the mountains, but were met by Australian forces on the Kokoda Trail. Buna became part of a concentrated 20km of defensive positions at Buna, Sanananda and Gona defended by 9,000 Japanese.

Allied Missions Against Buna
July 23, 1942 - January 23, 1943

Australian & American Offensive
Buna-Gona-Sananada Timeline   Japanese defenders had built extensive defenses around the Buna area. The defenders  were commanded by Col. Hiroshi Yamamoto, and approximately 2,000 troops including fresh reinforcements from the 144th Infantry Regiment and 3rd Battalion of 229th Infantry. The village of Buna was first attacked on November 16, 1942, but little gains were made. More reinforcements were sent forward and American General relieved further small gains were made. By December 14, 1942 the Japanese had abandoned the village and were occupying positions in the former coconut plantation to the east at Jiropa Plantation.

A total of 3,000 Australians from the 18th Australian Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Wootten, and a squadron of the 2/6th Australian Armoured Regiment equipped with M3 Stuart tanks from Milne Bay were brought forward to Buna along with US Army reinforcements of 9,000 troops from the 32nd Infantry Division. Together, they succeeded in breaking through the defenses on January 1, 1943, and by January 3rd the fighting had ended.  The ferocious fighting saw only six Japanese prisoners captured and the garrison annihilated.

First Tank Battle In Papua
At 7am on December 18, 1942, the Australians 2/9th Battalion, supported by seven tanks attacked towards Cape Endaiadere with the Americans on their left in support advanced north through the Americans, on a front of about 600 yards and with the sea on their right. However, the left company, attacking without tanks lost more than half its eighty-seven men in an advance of only about 100 yards and was pinned down. The attack did not resume until after the arrival of three tanks in the afternoon. The battalion lost 171 officers and men, about half the strength of the attacking companies. Two tanks were disabled on the battlefield.

Coconut Plantation
At 7 am on 20 December the 2/9th Battalion reinforced by a company of the 2/10th Battalion on the right with an American battalion on the left continued the advance. With air support and four tanks spaced among the Australian infantry they moved through the coconut plantation without great opposition and by 10 am were advancing into the bush and kunai grass clothing the marshy country beyond the plantation. The tanks bogged down and were only able to travel along the beach.The attackers came under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire. The advance ended on the general line along the Simemi Creek.

Casualties
There were 1,400 Japanese buried at Buna, The fighting on the beachheads cost 1,500 Australians, 670 Americans and an estimated 4,000 Japanese. The US 32nd Division sustained 1,954 casualties; 466 killed and 1508 wounded. In sixteen days the 18th Brigade had lost 55 officers and 808 men, including 22 officers and 284 others killed.

Buna Airfield (Old Strip)
Initially built by Australians, just prior to the Japanese invasion of the area. It became a battlefield in December 1942, and was the site of several abandoned aircraft.

Buna New Strip (New Strip, Dummy Strip)
Japanese begun construction of this second runway, never developed by the Allies

General Stuart M3 Tank Hull Number 2300
Engine compartment destroyed by magnetic mine, recovered for the PNG Museum 1973.

General Stuart M3 Tank Hull Number 2033
Disabled near Cape Endaiadere, recovered for the Australian War Memorial 1973

Beaufighter Serial Number A19-1
Pilot Sayer, shot down September 23, 1942

DB-7B Mark IIIA Serial Number A28-22
Pilot McDonald, crashed November 26, 1942

Buna Government Station
Site of the pre-war Buna Government Station. First attacked by Japanese flying boat in July 1942, it was occupied by the Japanese. 

Allied Liberation
The US Army 32nd Division attacked the Buna-Cape Endaiadere positions from both flanks on 19 November 1942 but were quickly pinned down by the formidable and well hidden Japanese defenses. Brutal fighting ensued for the month of November. Under General Eichelberger had made some gains on the left flank had captured the government gardens and had isolated the mission from Giropa Point. At 8 am on 1 January 1943 two Australian battalions, the 2/10th and the 2/12th with six tanks and two American battalions continued the attack on the Japanese positions east of Giropa Point. The tanks, working with precision, rolled close to the enemy's bunkers and lashed them with fire while the infantry rushed forward and hurled charges. The strong-posts when overcome were found to contain from ten to seventy bodies. At the end of the long day, few Japanese posts east of Giropa Point held out. These remaining posts were reduced on 2 January, the same day the Americans captured Buna.

Today
Buna was destroyed by the fighting. Only the concrete foundation of the pre-war government station remains today, overgrown. Slightly inland, are some village huts and a Medical Center and memorials. The village area has tracks from tanks or vehicles, and rusted ammunition boxes from the battle on display. Also, several memorials are present near the beach. The wing and tail section of a G6M1-L2 Betty 209 is also located here

Buna Australian Memorial Memorial pillar with inscriptions on each side. Side 1: reads in english and tok pidgin: "Australia Remembers - This medical center and memorial are for the people of Buna and Sanananda in appreciation of the support and help given to Australian servicemen who fought and died here in November 1942 - January 1943, this plaque is based on the photograph taken in this area on 24th December 1942. May this friendship be everlasting." Side 2: is a history of the battles for Buna and Sanananda. Side 3: reads in english and tok pidgin: "In memory of the Australian servicemen and the Papua New Guineans who lost their lives in the common cause during the battles for Buna and Sanananda from November 1942 to January 1943." Side 4: A roll of honor, listing all the Australian units that participated in the battle.	Justin Taylan 2005
Buna Battlefield Bronze Plaque Bronze plaque on a concrete square placed on the ground in the center of Buna village. Inscribed in both english and tok pidgin, dedicated in 1994. Read plaque inscription	Justin Taylan 2005
Buna American Memorial S 08 40.172 E 148 24.602  Located at the entrance to Buna village. This American memorial marker stands about 2m tall, and has a large brass plaque that reads: "SSgt Herman J. Bottcher, USA Platoon Commander 'G' Company, 126th Infantry, 32nd Division Buna Campaign: July 1942 - January 1943 - With 18 men, one machine gun, and 'sheer guts under fire' SSgt Bottcher held off a Japanese force that flanked him on two sides and numbered in the thousands. Despite being out-gunned and out-numbered, Bottcher and his men so effectively fought the enemy that they were never able to launch a coordinated attack and secure the narrow beach of Buna, New Guinea. When the enemy finally grew impatient and attacked, Bottcher 'mowed them down like wheat in a field'. For bravery under fire, he was awarded the battlefield commission of Captain. Two year later, Captain Bottcher was killed in combat fighting in the Philippines. With grateful appreciation The American Legion remembers Capt. Herman J. Bottcher and 'G' Company Erected on behalf of the American Legion by Dominic D. Difrancesco National Commander April 1992." "In memory of our fallen buddies 1-21-43 - 1-21-93 - On 1-21-43 men of the 32nd Red Arrow Division were largely responsible for the first ground defeat by Americans against the Japanese Army in World War II. We will never forget. Placed here by Tony Bacino, Co D 126 Inf 1-21-93"	Justin Taylan 2005

Buna Village (Old Village)
The old village of Buna is located a mile to the west of the Buna government station, along a cove. There is a small 'musuem' set up there. A warning, they seem to charge 5K per photo and a 20K entry fee, which is exhorbadant for what isswith some relics on display, including the wing of an aircraft (likely from one of the Betty bomber wrecks) and a variety of smaller Army relics, including shells, mortar holders, bullets and so forth.

The Triangle (Bloody Triangle)
Nickname given to the Buna area by Americans of the 32nd Infantry Division.  The Triangle was Buna village and Buna Government Station, a mile apart. The two objectives were separated by a mile wide estuary, Entrance Creek. This area was nicknamed 'The Triangle'. The 126th Infantry Regiment was assigned to this sector and ordered to attack when fully deployed

Jiropa Plantation (Giropa Point, Giropa Plantation)
Pre-war coconut palm plantation. The ground is flat and dominated by rows of coconut palms. It borders Simemi Creek to the east.

Wartime History
On the evening of 29 December, the 2/10th, strengthened by a company of the 2/9th and four newly arrived tanks, attacked the area between Giropa Point and the mouth of Simemi Creek, but gained nothing. On 31 December, the 2/12th Battalion relieved the 2/9th Battalion. After the battle, defenses were abanonded or bulldozed over to cover over the Japanese dead bodies.

Today
Reportedly, there is a Japanese Plaque commemorating their war dead.

Strip Point
Located between Giropa Point and Cape Endaiadere.  The 'Old Strip' Buna Airfield is located to the south of the point.

Cape Endaiadere (Maggot Beach)
Cape located to the east of Strip Point. Extensive fortifications were built here by the Japanese, including trenches, breastworks and bunkers. On December 5, 1942 Bren Gun were flown into Dobodura. Australians launched an attack with Bren Gun Carriers at Cape Endaiadere failed miserably, all were knocked out. After the battle, Americans nickname for strech of beach from Cape Endiadere to Buna "Maggot Beach".

An American Veteran recalled
"Just before dusk several of us walked down the trail that led us to Buna. All along Maggot Beach there were supplies scattered about, rifles, ammunition, rations and clothing. There were thousands of dead fish on the beach. This was caused by bombs dropping in the ocean and after the fish were dead the tide washed them ashore.”