Location
Lat 9° 19' 60S Long 149° 10' 0E  Coastal village along Collingwood Bay, south of Tufi. Also spelled Wanigela, Komabun and Kamabun. Wartime references also spell the location 'Waingela', 'Waigela' or 'Wanagilla'.

History
In July 1942, this area became vital to the Allies as a forward staging base to strike the Japanese beacheads further to the north-west at Buna - Gona.  Waigela was never occupied by the Japanese. A small party of coastwatchers in HMAS Paluma charted the shipping channels from Waigela to Cape Nelson during July 1942.

Waigela Mission
Prewar Anglican mission at Waigela led by Reverend Dennis J. Taylor. Forty members of the mission evacuated by foot after the Japanese landed at Gona.

Waigela Airstrip
Prewar Anglican mission at Waigela.

B-25C "Pistoff" 41-12830
Pilot Lett ditched January 8, 1943

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Last Updated
October 25, 2012