Location
Lat 7° 4' 60S Long 155° 52' 0E  Island located to the south-east of Shortland Island and south of Faisi Island.

History
Poporang was a forward base for Japanese Tokyo Air Corps with floatplanes from cruisers and battleships operating in the Solomons area also used it as a refitting area.

Missions Against Poporang
March 28, 1943 - October 1, 1944

Nila
A Catholic church was founded in 1899. They built a mission and hospital here. The area was occupied by the Japanese during the war, and priest George Lepping was taken away by the Japanese. The island was a major Japanese naval base and Shortland Harbor Seaplane Base until the end of the war. Today, the village of Nila is very small and occupies the original naval establishment area at sea level.

E13A1 Jake Manufacture Number 5155
Reportedly salvaged from shallow water in 1968, abandoned at Nila

Seaplane Servicing Area
On the shore at Nila, overgrown by bush is a servicng area for F1M2 Pete seaplanes. The fusulages of several Petes are abandoned at this location. In November 2007, one of these fusealges was removed by Craig Turner / Solomon Islands National Museum Project on November 8, 2007 aboard transport "Tina".

F1M2 Pete Manufacture Number 2265 Tail PO-16

F1M2 Pete Constructors Number 1250 Tail L-215
Salvaged by Criag Turner / SI Museum Project November 8, 2007

A path has been built over the swamp made from the wings of F1M2 Pete biplanes, presumably from the nearby Dump area. Chris Cowx adds: "I actually wiped away the mud and you could see the meatball insignia on the wings. Nearby is a collection of Japanese beer and sake bottles."

Blockhouse Bunker / Generator Nila was powered by the original generator used by the Japanese during the war. The lights which used to illuminate the base still operate when the generator is turned over, and this was in the late 1970's! Photo by Justin Taylan 2003.

Fortifications The area is zigzagged with trenches, tunnels, cement bunkers and the foundations of wooden buildings. On higher ground is located an anti- aircraft complex comprising several antiaircraft and coastal guns. Photo by Justin Taylan 2003.

Japanese Truck Located next to the Japanese built freshwater well, that still flows today. The cab section of a Japanese truck.

Navy Trailer Mounted Type 2, Mark 1 Radar Japanese Navy trailer mounted radar with 100-120km search range.  Today, the radar still rotates 360 degress and is used as a merry-go-round by local kids. Thanks to Takashi Doi / Yokohama Radio Museum for model identification.

Navy Trailer Mounted Type 2, Mark 1 Radar Japanese Navy trailer mounted radar with 100-120km search range.  Today, it appears to be in a partial earthen bunker, its overgrown an does not pivot. Thanks to Takashi Doi / Yokohama Radio Museum for model identification.

Search Light A medium sized searchlight, with intact shutters.  It has been broken since the early 1970s and is thrown from its U shapped mount and lying in an earthen bunker area

Type 3 (1914) 76.2mm naval gun Also designated as a Type 3 (1914) 8 cm high angle gun. This gun has shrapnel damage on the barrel and is facing at a slightly elevated angle.

Type 3 (1914) 76.2mm naval gun Also designated as a Type 3 (1914) 8 cm high angle gun This gun is broken into several components, and mostly buried in its emplacement.  The barrel is seporated laying to the side, and gun buried to the base. It is possible this is a smaller caliber gun, but most likely 76.2

Type 3 (1914) 76.2mm naval gun Also designated as a Type 3 (1914) 8 cm high angle gun. This gun is emplaced in a emplacement, with two open and empty 75mm ammunition holders nearby.  The barrel is elevated to 45 degrees.

Type 3 (1914) 140mm Naval Gun (No 1) Located on the eastern portion of the island, facing Shortland Island. Gun turret with sheild.  A box of ammunition is lying nearby, and a dud shell behind the gun.  The breech is removed and missing.

Type 3 (1914) 140mm Naval Gun (No 2) Gun turret with sheild.  One of the gun's view ports in the shield is in the closed position. One of the recoil springs is lying to the side.

Interstate TDR Attack Drone
Crashed October 1, 1944

Allied Aircraft Wreck
Unknown aircraft wreck, possibly Allied

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Last Updated
October 6, 2009