Lat
1° 57' 0S Long 147° 13' 0E Small island located
in the north east of Manus
History
Attacked on March 30, 1944 by the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, reinforced.
Pityilu Island was thought to be defended by 60 Japanese, is nearly
3 miles long and varies in width from 250 to 650 yards. The beach
chosen for the assault is the only one suitable for landing; it is
of white, hard sand and is located about the center of the southern
shore. Six waves transported in LVT's, LCM's, and LCV's would make
up the assaulting force, which would move inland through the coconut
plantation covering the western two-thirds of the island.
Pre-Invasion Bombardment
Naval gunfire, artillery, and air strikes had been used against
this island at various times before the attack date. Destroyers had
first bombarded it to keep down hostile fire when the approaches to
Lorengau and Lugos Mission were being cleared of mines. Preparation
for the attack began at 0630 on 30 March by 2 destroyers which fired
30 rounds each until 0730. A spectacular air strike followed the naval
fire. For the first 10 minutes P-40's dive-bombed the landing beach;
the next 10 minutes P-40's and Spitfires strafed the entire island.
Immediately afterwards the 61st Field Artillery Battalion, which had
registered the previous day from positions on the south side of the
Lorengau air strip, pounded the island with a heavy concentration
of 105's. When the artillery barrage was lifted, two LCS's (Landing
Craft, Support) on either flank of the beach opened up with their
rockets. By this time the assault waves were approaching the shore,
and the rockets searched the island in front of the first wave. The
successive waves landed unopposed and the troops established a beachhead
with Troop C as the left wing, Troop A in the center, and Troop B
on the right. At 1000 some patrols sent out immediately after landing
reported no contact with the enemy. The Reconnaissance Platoon moved
by buffalo to the west, while Troop C in reserve on the beach sent
patrols west into the interior. Troops A and B, with one medium tank
leading the way, began an advance east toward the rain forest which
covered that end of the island.
Liberation of the Island
As the troops advanced they ran into light machine-gun and
sniper fire which was easily silenced. Enemy guns in a hut, encountered
by Troop B after moving 1,000 yards along the south coast, were
neutralized by the tank, which blew up the entire position. At
1212, after progressing 1,500 yards, Troop A ran into heavy resistance
from dug-in positions midway between the north and south shores.
Troop A started to withdraw to permit an artillery concentration
to be placed on the position, but the Japanese followed the withdrawal
so closely that it was impossible to evacuate our wounded until
a light tank was brought up to cover this operation. Then a 45-minute
artillery concentration was placed on the enemy bunker, after which
Troop A, aided by the light tank, attacked the position and killed
14 Japanese. Troop B came upon a hastily constructed trench containing
21 Japanese, who gave their position away by loud chatter. When
2d Lt. John R. Boehme and two privates went out to investigate
the position, they were wounded by fire from the group. In spite
of his wound, Pvt. Paul A. Lahman advanced on the position, firing
clip after clip from his BAR. He was credited by Lieutenant Boehme
with the destruction of practically the entire force. At 1720 the
squadron withdrew on regimental orders to a position on the western
edge of the rain forest and established a perimeter for the night.
The Reconnaissance Platoon patrolled the western end of the island
and returned to report no contact. Although the attacking force
then did not know it, all the Japanese garrison had been killed
or wounded. After a bombardment the next morning, the squadron
advanced and discovered more dead Japanese, which made a total
of 59 killed against 8 cavalrymen killed and 6 wounded in the mopping
up of Pityilu. Seizing Pityilu was an expensive operation compared
with the other small islands, which turned out to be either unoccupied.
Contstruction Activites
A detachment of the 140th US Navy Construction
Battalion was stationed and built the Pityilu Airstrip.
Pityilu Airstrip
Built by Americans and used by the US Navy and turned over to the Royal Navy.
