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 5th AF March 7, 1943  Roderick Eime Dec 2014 |
Location Lat 10° 18' 0S Long 150° 25' 0E Milne Bay is a twenty mile wide bay at the southeastern tip of New Guinea. Borders China Strait and Samarai Island to the east. Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Eastern District in Territory of Papua. Today located in Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History During late August 1942, the Japanese attempted to land two groups Milne Bay which they referred to the entire Milne Bay area as "Rabi" for Rabi (Rabe). The first group departed Buna bound for Milne Bay but in transit was spotted and strafed by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-40 Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron and their barges and troops stranded on Goodenough. The second group departed New Ireland and during the night of August 25, 1942 successfully landed a force of Japanese Naval Special Landing Forces (SNLF) at three points inside Milne Bay. This landing was the southern most point of the Japanese advance on land during the Pacific War in World War II. By the end of August. the remaining Japanese withdrew. Allied and 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 area. Several coastal villages were developed into military bases and naval installations built along the shore of Milne Bay. The U.S. Army letter base designation for Milne Bay was "Base A". By the middle of 1944 most naval installations were complete and used until the end of the Pacific War. Milne Bay Area Alotau provincial capital of Milne Bay Province borders Milne Bay. Rabi (Rabe) located between Turnbull Airfield (No. 3 Strip) and Koebule Mission (KB Mission). Ladava located at the western edge of Milne Bay near Gurney Airfield. Gili Gili (Gill Gill) borders Milne Bay dock area east of Ladava and Turnbull Airfield Gamadodo located on the southeast coast of Milne Bay. Waigani located inland from Milne Bay and No. 2 Strip. Konibirrubirru located inland from Milne Bay. Milne Bay Area Airfields Gurney Airfield (No. 1 Strip, Fall River) built by the U.S. Army during 1942 still in use today as Gurney Airport. No. 2 Strip (Unnamed, Waigani Airfield) located near Waigani the runway suffered drainage problems not used. Turnbull Airfield (No. 3 Strip) located near Gil Gili under construction during the Battle of Milne Bay. Samarai Seaplane Base located off Samarai Island used as a seaplane operating area. A-29 Hudson Mark IIIA Serial Number A16-245 Ditched offshore Milne Bay P-40E Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-110 Ditched on reef August 29, 1942, pontoon attempt failed, sunk B-17F Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-24354 Pilot Webb MIA August 26, 1942 A6M2 Model 21 Zero Manufacture Number 646 Crashed August 1942 Contribute
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