Location
Lat 1° 40' 0S Long 150° 0' 0E  Eight miles across from east to west. Pronounced 'E-mir-a'. Located in the St. Matthias Group. Also know as "Storm Island" first sighted by Dampier in 1699 and named "Squally Island". Located nearby is Mussau Island.

Wartime History
A prewar German plantation and a Seven Day Adventist missionary station existed on the southern portion of the island. World War II first came to Emirau in the form of a Kregsmarine raiders Orion and Komet, who left about 500 men, women and children on Emirau in early December 1940, after the sinking of their ship, RMS Rangitane and Holmwood. The survivors lived on the island until rescued by Australian authorities.

American Liberation
On March 12, 1944, the Joint Chiefs of Staff decided to capture Hollandia and Emirau as part of the campaign to neutralize Rabaul.

Occupied by US Marines on March 20, 1944 by the 4th Marines (1st and 2nd Battalions, with 3rd Battalion in reserve). There were no Japanese defenders on the island, instead the Marines were met by 7 Day Adventist missionaries. The next day and airfield construction is begun. USS Anthony DD-515 covered the invasion of Emirau. Destroyer USS Wintle DE-25 was patrolling off Emirau on April 8 and April 21 1944. Also, on June 12 and 25 and August 28, 1944. The Marines were relived by the US Army's 147th Infantry Regiment on April 11, 1944.

Emirau Airfield
Built by US Navy Seabees, pair of parallel runways.

Emirau Cemetery
There was a US Army temporary cemetery on the island until the end of the war, when remains were disinterred and brought back to USA.

Hamburg Bay
Located on the north-west coast, 9-10 fathoms deep. After the liberation of the island, the US Navy built a base on Hamburg Bay.

Kamikawa Maru
Sunk off Emirau by the USS Scamp (SS-227) on May 29, 1943

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 25, 2012