Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
    Falamai (Falami) Mono Island | Western Province Solomon Islands
Click For Enlargement
Click For EnlargementClick For Enlargement
USN October 27, 1943

Click For Enlargement

USN October 27, 1943

Click For Enlargement
Solomon Airlines 1994

Click For Enlargement
USN January 13, 1944
Location
Small triangular peninsula on the south coast of Mono Island bordering Blanche Harbor, across from Stirling Island. Located near the Saveke River. A prewar native village was built at this location.

Wartime History
Occupied by the Japanese that built defenses including coconut log bunkers facing Blanche Harbor.

On October 27, 1943 at dawn, U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 31 (TF 31) bombard the Falamai village area ahead of the Allied amphibious landing by the New Zealand Army 3rd Division Brigade and U.S. Navy (USN) 87th Naval Construction Battalion (87th NCB) "Seabees", Company A under the command of Carl J. Mitchell landing at "Purple Two Beach".

Ashore, the Japanese opposed the landing from coconut log bunkers supported by mortars emplaced on two hills inland from the beach plus snipers in Falamai village. A mortar shell hit an ammunition dump on the beach, causing a large explosion and wounded Seabee Herb Bodine, who was evacuated. Other mortars his food dump and another hit one of the LSTs. After the area was secured, the village huts were bulldozed, and road construction began. That night, Japanese aircraft attempted to bomb the landing force, but were ineffective.

Bulldozer over pillbox
To the east of the village was a Japanese pillbox made of logs with a twin "50mm" gun was firing on the landing area. U.S. Navy Seabee Aurelio "Ray" Tassone drove his D-8 bulldozer with the blade raised as a shield over the pillbox, burying its 12 defenders and silencing it. For this action, he later earned the Silver Star.

Veteran Herbert Bodine 87th Navy Construction Battalion recalls:
"I participated in the invasion of Mono Island in the Treasury Group on October 27, 1943. I was wounded by Japanese mortar fire while unloading supplies from an LST. I was evacuated back to Guadalcanal for treatment of my wounds. While on the beach I witnessed Aurilio "Ray" Tassone of Milford, MA destroy a Japanese twin barrel 50mm gun emplacement which was firing at landing troops. He drove his D9 bulldozer toward the emplacement using the blade as a shield and when close he lowered the blade and destroyed the gun and the 12 Japanese manning it. He received the Silver Star for his heroism. A Hollywood movie, The Fighting Seabees with John Wayne was based on that episode"

Allied War Cemetery (Mono)
Located at Falamai. New Zealand and American dead were buried here during 1943-1944. Later the graves were exhumed and transported elsewhere for final burial. Known burials include five Americans buried on January 13, 1944: Roy Goldberg (KIA January 13, 1944) Eddie Burns, Blake Musselman, Art Nappen and Don Fitzgerald (KIA January 11, 1944). During 1945, this cemetery was exhumed and remains repatriated.

References
The Earthmovers (1945) pages 55-60
NEITC Chapter 11 - Story of Soanotalu

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

Last Updated
October 22, 2022

 

Map
Map
December 22, 1943

Photos
Photo Archive
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram