Lat
10° 18' 0S Long 150° 25' 0E Twenty mile long bay, located at the south-east tip
of New Guinea. Japanese called the location Rabi.
Two Japanese landing parties bound for Milne Bay. One,
from Buna was stranded on Goodenough, when their barges were destroyed by RAAF 75 Squadron P-40's.
The second group, from New Ireland landed
Japanese Naval Special Landing
Forces (Marines) at at three points inside Miline Bay on the night of August 25, 1942. This assault
was the southern most point of the Japanese advance on land in World
War II. By the end of August. the remaining Japanese widthrdrew, to
fight on Guadalcanal.
Japanese Missions Against Milne Bay
August 4, 1942 - August 9, 1943
After the battle, the area was then developed into a large Allied staging base. Several
coastal villages were developed into military bases and naval installations
after the battle. US Army base at Milne Bay was known as 'Base A'. By
the middle of 1944 most naval installations were complete. Due
to the rapid advance of Allied forces.
A-29
Hudson Mk. IIIA Serial
Number A16-245
Ditched ofshore Milne Bay
P-40E
Kittyhawk Serial
Number A29-110
Ditched onto a reef near Milne Bay on August 29, 1942, pontoon attempt failed, sunk
B-17F Serial
Number 41-24354
Pilot Webb MIA August 26, 1942
B-17E Serial
Number 41-2635
Pilot Hancock MIA November 1, 1942 discovered 1999
A6M2 Zero Manufacture
Number 646
Crashed August 1942
Coastal villages and locations along Milne Bay:
Alotau
Present day town on the north coast of Milne Bay. War Memorial
Rabi
Village west of KB Mission.
Ladava
Located at the western end of Milne Bay, Gurney Airfield (No. 1 Strip) and later Navy facilities.
Gili Gili (Gill Gill)
Dock area east of Ladava. Turnbull Airfield (No 3 Strip).
Gamadodo
Village on the south-east coast of the
bay US Navy supply depot
Waigani
Located inland from Milne Bay, No 2 Strip (Unnamed, Waigani).
