via Papua New Guinea
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Please note -- Whilst all care has been taken in preparing and maintaining the FAQ's about Papua New Guinea it is not possible to be able verify every answer. The information is provided 'as is' and I can not accept responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from the use of this information.
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History - War List of Categories
Do you have a possible inclusion for this "War history" category of FAQ? If you do then please let me know.
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- What is the name of the ship sunk during the 2nd World War and still can be seen from Port Moresby?
- What was the name of the Headquarters ship of Rear-Admiral Burroughs in the invasion of North Africa?
- What was the name of the ship that His Majesty King George VI took the salute of the invasion fleet in the D-Day operation?
- What was the name of the plane that crashed into Mt Wilhelm?
- MV 'Desikoko'?
- Why were australian troops in PNG?
- World War II Ships - Lakatoi
- World War II Ships - Laurabada
- Were there only Indian POW's brought to Rabaul by the Japanese?
- How many of the old Indian Army are buried in Rabaul?<--Indian pows-->
- When was Salamaua captured by the Japanese in WWII?
- When was the first attack on Australian territory during the 2nd world war?
- When was John Jackson's last flight?
- When did Australian soldiers stop the Japanese soldiers advancing towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Trail?
- When did the Japanese capture the Kokoda Trail during the Second World War?
- How long did the battle of Isurava along the Kokoda Trail last for?
- How long is the kokoda trail? <--kokoda track, how many km is the kokoda trail, how many km is the kokoda track, how many miles is the kokoda track, how many miles is the kokoda trail-->
- Why does PNG celebrate Remembrance Day on the 23rd of July?
- Where can I find articles about World War 2 History and relics in PNG?
- Where can I find photographs taken during WW2?
- Are there any disabled World War II wrecks in PNG?
- Do you know if tanks were used during the Second World War in PNG?
- Is ANZAC day celebrated in PNG?
- Was PNG attacked during the Second World War?
- When was the Battle of the Coral Sea?
- Who was the head of Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit?
- who were the Heads of New Guinea Administrative Unit?
- Who were the U.S. Military Commanders during the secon worlld war?
- Who were the Japanese Commanders of Occupied New Guinea and Papua during WW2
- Where can I find out informtaion about Australian Soldiers that fought in New Guinea during the Second World War?
- When was the Battle of New Britain?
- When was the Kavieng Wharf Massacre?
- Approximately how many Second World War aircraft are still lost in PNG?
- What are the names of the 29 Allies lost during the Battle of New Britain?
- How many soldiers are buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
- When was the War Cemetery at Lae started?
- Where can I find a list of soldiers buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
- I hear that there are tunnels on the island of New Britain. How long are the tunnels?
- How many Japanese airstrips were located at wartime Rabaul?
- When did the Allied Air Force begin a major air offensive against Rabaul during the Second World War?
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- What is the name of the ship sunk during the 2nd World War and still can be seen from Port Moresby?
World War II Ships -- that is the Burns Philp ship called the Macdhui.
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- What was the name of the Headquarters ship of Rear-Admiral Burroughs in the invasion of North Africa?
World War II Ships -- The HQ ship was the Bulolo. It was also thesignal ship for the Casablanca Conference attended by Churchill and Roosevelt.
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- What was the name of the ship that His Majesty King George VI took the salute of the invasion fleet in the D-Day operation?
World War II Ships -- That would be the Bulolo, built in 1938 for Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., Sydney, by Barclay, Curie & Co., Ltd., Glasgow.
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- What was the name of the plane that crashed into Mt Wilhelm?
The only plane I know of was the WWII Bomber, an American F-7A (converted B-24 Liberator) named "Under Exposed", that crashed in the early hours of the 22nd of May 1944.
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- MV 'Desikoko'?
World War II Ships -- The MV Desikoko was used to convey soldiers and civilians from Rabaul shortly before the Japanese captured the town on the 23rd of January 1942.
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- Why were australian troops in PNG?
Is this a question about World War II or about modern day times? Please clarify? For example -- Australia's first battle against the Germans was at Bitapaka on the 11th of September 1914 so obviously Australian troops were in PNG at that stage.
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- World War II Ships - Lakatoi
The Lakatoi was a 179 ton boat. The boat was used to evacuate 212 Lark Force personnel and 2 civilian women from Witu in New Britain in March 1942 to Cairns, Australia.
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- World War II Ships - Laurabada
This ship was used to evacuate 156 personnel from Palmalmal on the south coast of New Britain in April, 1942. This ship had to run the gauntlet too of potential Japanese detection and attack. The Laurabada resupplied the Lakatoi and guided it through the China Straits. The Laurabada discharged the evacuees at Port Moresby, from whence they were taken by a larger vessel, the Macdhui to Australia.
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- Were there only Indian POW's brought to Rabaul by the Japanese?
No it is reported that thousands of Chinese, Indian, and British prisoners of war were bought to Rabaul as slave labour to help on the wharves and in the tunnels.
Captured American, Australian and New Zealand airmen added to the number of prisoners.
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- How many of the old Indian Army are buried in Rabaul?<--Indian pows-->
A large number of Indian prisoners of war from Malaya and Hong Kong were liberated from the Japanese by the Australian Army during the 1945 campaign in New Britain, New Ireland, and Bougainville. A total of 619 casualties of the old Indian Army are buried at Bita Paka. (Rabaul, East New Britain)
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- When was Salamaua captured by the Japanese in WWII?
The Town of Salamaua was captured by the Japanese on the 8th of March, 1942 during World War II.
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- When was the first attack on Australian territory during the 2nd world war?
The attack on Darwin on 19 February 1942 marked the first attack made on continental Australia by an enemy force. It was not the first attack on Australian territory. On 4 January 1942, 22 Nells bombed the airfield at Lakunai, near Rabaul, New Britain, part of the Australian Mandate of Papua New Guinea.
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- When was John Jackson's last flight?
At 11.15 am, 28 April 1942, Jackson led five Kittyhawks to intercept a superior force of Japanese bombers and fighters north of Port Moresby. Jackson and Barry Cox died fighting the Zeke escort that had the advantage of height over the slow climbing Kittyhawks. Flying Officer Peter Masters spun out of the combat, and Flying Officer Le Gay 'Cocky' Brereton was slightly wounded when his Kittyhawk was hit in the wings and fuselage. Jackson's aircraft was seen to crash on Mount Lawes. When the crash site was located, the engine was found embedded two metres into the ground from the force of the impact.
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- When did Australian soldiers stop the Japanese soldiers advancing towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Trail?
The soldiers eventually halted the Japanese soldiers at Ioribaiwa Ridge on the 26th of September 1942.
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- When did the Japanese capture the Kokoda Trail during the Second World War?
The Japanese captured the Kokoda Trail on the 28th of July 1942.
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- How long did the battle of Isurava along the Kokoda Trail last for?
It lasted from the 27th to the 30th of August 1942.
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- How long is the kokoda trail? <--kokoda track, how many km is the kokoda trail, how many km is the kokoda track, how many miles is the kokoda track, how many miles is the kokoda trail-->
About 95 miles depending on what you consider to be the start of the track.
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- Why does PNG celebrate Remembrance Day on the 23rd of July?
PNG's Remembrance Day is held on July 23 in recognition of the first engagement between PNG troops and Japanese troops on that day in 1942 at Awala near Kokoda.
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- Where can I find articles about World War 2 History and relics in PNG?
This article was originally published in the Air Niugini Paradise Magazine. It has been reproduced at this web site -- www.em.com.pg
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- Where can I find photographs taken during WW2?
A good starting point would be -- http://www.pngbd.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/5485/sort/1/cat/533 and then browse from there.
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- Are there any disabled World War II wrecks in PNG?
Yes, try visiting -- http://www.niuginidiving.com/. For example you can read about the wreck of the Shanko Maru and Mini Sub at -- http://www.niuginidiving.com/japsub.html -- Another site is the Swamp Ghost site -- http://www.theswampghost.com/.
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- Do you know if tanks were used during the Second World War in PNG?
It has been reported that the Japanese were surprised by the use of tanks and had to make makeshift anti-tank defences by cutting down coconut trees to block the approach of the oncoming tanks.
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- Is ANZAC day celebrated in PNG?
Yes, it is celebrated on the 25th of April each year. PNG also has Remberance Day that is celebrated on the 23rd of July.
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- Was PNG attacked during the Second World War?
The Japanese bombed Port Moresby and other areas repeatedly in 1942, during World War II. General Douglas MacArthur, overall comander of the Allied forces, made his headquarters at Port Moresby for a time.
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- When was the Battle of the Coral Sea?
The Battle of the Coral Sea was from the 3rd of May to 8th of May 1942 (during the Second World War).
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- Who was the head of Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit?
10 Apr 1942 - 194? Kenneth Carlyle McMullen.
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- who were the Heads of New Guinea Administrative Unit?
14 Feb 1942 - 15 Feb 1942 George Wilfred Lambert Townsend (b. 1896 - d. 19..)
15 Feb 1942 - 9 Apr 1942 Kenneth Carlyle McMullen (b. 1904))
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- Who were the U.S. Military Commanders during the secon worlld war?
The U.S. Military Commanders were
1943 - 1944 Walter Krueger(b. 1881 - d. 1967)
1944 Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (b. 1886 - d. 1961)
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- Who were the Japanese Commanders of Occupied New Guinea and Papua during WW2
The Japanese Commanders were
21 Jan 1942 - 1942 Tomitaro Horii(b. 1890 - d. 1942)
1942 Hyakutake Seikichi (b. 1888 - d. 1947)
9 Nov 1942 - 13 Sep 1945 Adachi Hatazo (b. 1890 - d. 1947)
(from Aug 1944, in opposition)
9 Nov 1942 - 6 Sep 1945 Imamura Hitoshi (b. 1886 - d. 1968)
(at Rabaul in charge of New Guinea islands)
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- Where can I find out informtaion about Australian Soldiers that fought in New Guinea during the Second World War?
Sorry this is outside the reason for ths PNG FAQ's site because it is concerning Australia but have you had a look at the Department of Veterans Affairs -- www.dva.gov.au/commem/faq/faq1.htm web site? Look at this page and search to the bottom you may find some helpful links.
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- When was the Battle of New Britain?
During the Second World War from 1943 to 1944
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- When was the Kavieng Wharf Massacre?
It may have been on the 18th February 1944 but the 18th February was the one associated with the false story of the ship Kowa Maru and when the missing prisoners of war were allegedly put on board. It was subsequently sunk with great loss of life, 30 miles west of New Hanover on 21 February 1944. It was the date the men went missing, presumed dead, used by the Australian Government on the Certificates of Death issued after the war. It may have been one day in March 1944 most likely the 14th. This date was stated by the 3 most senior Japanese officers as the date of the massacre in their appeal petition dated 2 December 1947
See -- Kavieng Wharf Massacre -- http://www.jje.info/lostlives/exhib/potp/kaviengwharf.html
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- Approximately how many Second World War aircraft are still lost in PNG?
It is hard to estimate but the number has put as being over 600 aircraft. (2008)
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- What are the names of the 29 Allies lost during the Battle of New Britain?
No. 30 Squadron (Beaufighters)
W R G Binnie
J L Brooks
J J Cain
C H Chapple
P J Coates
W N P Cosgrove
W L Daniels
C P Glasscock
R A Kelly
D C Kirkwood
B A Le Griffon
G A Lucas
E B Morris-Hadwell
J R Newman
D R Stone
R V Tiballs
C E Wein
H M Woodroffe
W J Yates
G Gill (AIF)
No. 22 Sqquadron (Bostons)
H B Dawkins
J G Emerton
T J Gawne
J B Knight
E G T Riley
D G Semple
G R Thomas
L K Wilson
No. 79 Squadron (Spitfires)
L Wettenhall
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- How many soldiers are buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
The cemetery contains the graves of men who lost their lives during the New Guinea campaign whose graves were brought here from the temporary military cemeteries in areas where the fighting took place.
The cemetery contains 2,818 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 444 of them are unidentified.
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- When was the War Cemetery at Lae started?
The Lae War cemetery was commenced in 1944 by the Australian Army Graves Service and handed over to the Commission in 1947.
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- Where can I find a list of soldiers buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
Try the PNGBD web site they had (have) a listing at the following link -- http://www.pngbd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5925
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- I hear that there are tunnels on the island of New Britain. How long are the tunnels?
The pumice hills of Rabaul were honeycombed with over 500 kilometres of tunnels, including 15 hospitals (one such being 4 kilometres in length, and having a capacity for 2,500 patients). Indian P.O.W's captured at Singapore, and local inhabitants were used as labour for digging the tunnels - extreme hardships and many deaths resulted.
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- How many Japanese airstrips were located at wartime Rabaul?
At it's peak the fortress of Rabaul included 5 airstrips, a float plane base, a submarine base, huge numbers of naval vessels, and up to 200,000 Japanese armed forces personnel.
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- When did the Allied Air Force begin a major air offensive against Rabaul during the Second World War?
Tuesday, 12 October, 1943
The Allied Air Force began a major air offensive against Rabaul on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago with the aim of isolating and neutralizing it. Almost 350 B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and RAAF airplanes pound the town, harbor, and airfields in the area; over 50 Japanese aircraft are destroyed, 3 ships are sunk and several damaged, and several small harbor craft are sunk.
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